General Chat

Morning All,

Sunshine here now and OH has gone to a match somewhere near Leek in Staffordshire.

I remember MIL and FIL struggling to fit new batteries in FIL's hearing aids. It's a pity they can't make one's that last longer as it must be a fiddly job for the very old, especially if they have shaky hands.

Yes that was an awful way for those men to treat the girl Frank. It is disgusting to spike someone's drinks so they don't know what they are doing and then take advantage of the situation and callous not to get medical help when obviously needed. That's good you have a date fixed for Simon to come for one of your lovely lunches! They will love it I'm sure. Oh I'd forgotten the word PARKY for it being cold; we used to say it a lot!

It did cross my mind about trying a pillow to support my knees Mandy, but I have to say that last night they were pretty much ok and I stayed asleep once I got off. I think it's going to be fine but I have an extra pillow handy so will keep it in mind if I wake with achey knees again. :-) Did young Chelsea behave and stay the night? She is getting to the challenging age of much arguing I expect! :-S I hope Nicko isn't sleeping rough again as you say.

I'm glad your hubby is much better now Gill, but he mustn't over do it for a few weeks as these things can take a while to get over properly and he will tire more easily till he has his full strength back. That parcel was expensive to send wasn't it! It gets dearer every year though.

I'm off to look at more paintings now as there is another club's exhibition at Peckleton. It's the place where I went up that lane thinking it was a short cut and ended up turning round in a field as they'd blocked it off! Shan't do that again. BBL

Yes £50 million was a great amount raised for children in need. Some of the stories were very sad, I was watching it with a tissue in my hand at some points.

So it's the family Christmas dinner on the 3rd then Frank. It sounds like you might have quite a house full. Enjoy your football today.

Going to grab a sandwich now I'm starving

Afternoon Everyone
Parky is just the right word for today. I havent heard anyone say that word for ages.
I think i will light the fire in a minute.

Didn't Children in Need do well last night. That is a huge amount plus there will still be lots more money to come in. I spent so much of the programme blubbing with lots of wet tissues around me.Even Chris was a bit teary at times.

He seems back to normal today Gill,and I am glad your OH is feeling much better too now.

Frank that will be really nice to have a big family lunch just before Xmas. What will be on the menu?

The Mattress sounds like it is a big success Ann.Just think of all the good nights sleep you will have now :-D

Have you stocked up the rack with food again this morning Mel ? It looks a really good idea.

So Mandy how did it go with Chelsea. Did she get her sleep over? :-D

I had a parcel delivered this morning.It was Jess's Xmas present. A really nice jacket that she has been wanting.It has a lovely padded felt rabbit brooch attached to one of the lapels. It is a tweed type of Jacket fitted around the waist .I am going to hang it up as I dont think keeping it in the box for another month will do it good just incase of creasing. So that is Jess sorted .I still have no idea about James :-S

His car is in for a service today so not going to Jess this weekend .Or next weekend .That will be 3 weekends in a row!!. I think next weekend he and friends are going to Nottingham for Dog Racing. Jess is having a house party for her Uni friends and Tutors. Secretly I think James is quite glad he is not going to be there :-D. Jess will be in RIGHT FLAP and mess LOL. I think I have mentioned before the state my kitchen is in if Jess is cooking or baking !!!!

I am going to make that meatloaf again today for dinner.I was going to do a Venison Hotpot but I could only buy one pack of diced Venison yesterday and I am not sure it is enough for three. So that is on hold for now. I need to grate an Onion and some cloves of Garlic ,but I will need to wear gloves for that so I am going to smile nicely at James :-D :-D... I am quite happy to grate the Celery and Carrot :-D

Pleased to hear your OH is feeling better today Jane. If you don't mind me asking could you email me the meatloaf recipe please?

I think the parcel costs so much because of the size, it was quite large Ann. I remember years ago I sent a before and after aerial photo's of Ellesmere Port to my friend as we used to live in the same place as children before she left to live in Australia and that cost me £50 to send as they were big and also quite heavy, that must be about 20 years ago. Ellesmere Port had a new shopping arcade built and the bus station had moved plus a few other things, so I thought it would make an interesting present. Her mum thought it was brilliant, but I suppose she'd remember the area better than her daughter. Her daughter put them up in her hall way. The post office is only at the end of our road so about a 5 minute walk. OH said he wanted some fresh air so took the parcel with him on his short walk.
Yes make sure you don't end up in the field again. Enjoy the paintings.

Gill, I will send you the recipe :-). I have just finished making the Meatloaf so it just needs going in the oven tonight. I might do Sauté Potatoes.But if my back it to achey to stand more in the kitchen it might be oven chips or Sweet Potato chips.I am not so keen on them but James loves them.

Just sent it Gill :-D

I have stopped posting parcels to my friends children in Cape Town as they cost a blooming bomb and sometimes the parcels never even got there !!!!. I think I paid £22 .
I would rather wait until they come over here and give their Mum some money then to buy something for them.

James has his car back.Looks like he will have to fork out £200 or so for a new drive shaft.It is not at the stage where he has to have it done right now but we said better get it sorted rather than leave it too long. He can always use Chris's car for work.

There is not a breath of wind here.Everything feels spookily still. Quite eerie really,and I can't hear any traffic sound from the A14,which is really unusual. It is so peaceful :-D

The fire is lit and I am going to go and have a sit down now. Chris is reading his book. I would like to put the TV on but if I do he will move out to the study.So i will leave him in peace for a little while :-)

You were talking about Pampas Grass. We have just got the first Plume on ours. It was planted a couple of years ago .

Maybe I will write a few more Christmas cards. I am getting there :-D

Turned really dull here. Have'nt got on with any craft work as its taken ages to read al your long posts.

You seem to be getting along ok with the new mattress and I am pleased the knees didn't play up last night so perhaps it was something you did during the day that made them achey the first night.

As its been so cold here I took the boys their minion hat scarf and glove sets this morning. They were thrilled to bits with them and had to put them on right away. Mind you Em and I had a devil of a job to get those awful plastic bits out of them without snipping through the knitted items. They were all one size but fitted them both well. Em's always saying I shouldn't but I told her they are my adopted grandchildren so why can't I spoil them. She also said she needed to get new hats and gloves for George as his last set were too small but fitted Sam. I thought its nice for Sam to have new as he usually gets Georges cast offs being the second child. When I got there Sam came out with a big smile on his face and thanked me for his birthday present which I left on the door handle on Tuesday as they were all out.

Its getting a bit dimity so I better go and do the chickens and feed the hog and then I can stay indoors in the warm till I have to cook the steak tonight. May do a bit of cutting out of some felt leaves. I am going to have a go at making a fairy woodland tiara.

Thanks Jane for the recipe I will try it one day next week. I think you're right about James's car it's best to sort it out sooner rather than later. OH said it could be dangerous so needs to be sorted straight away. Yes the parcel was a bit expensive this year. I normally try to find something a bit smaller and lighter but couldn't resist the car transporter and cars which move themselves if you pull them back and let them go. I've never met my friends son but she has told me he likes that sort of thing so I hope he likes it.

Talking of Pampas grass I was watching Gogglebox the other day and Stephen , the one who's friends with Christopher said that if you have a Pampas grass in your front garden it's suppose to mean you are a swinger.....well, OH and I had never heard of that before and couldn't stop laughing. We still don't know if he was serious or just pulling his friend's leg. Good job our potted pampas grass's are around the back ;-) ;-) ;-)

Your crafting sounds like it's going to be lovely Mel, don't forget the pic when it's finished :-D The boys loved their presents, by the sounds of it.

OH and I have almost finished catching up with our programmes while Sandra was reading her book, so now we're all going to catch up with some programmes that Sandra likes, including the two Coronation street's that were on last night. I recorded them as Children in Need was on.

I've just noticed your picture has changed again Ann, it's lovely. Is it one of your paintings?
I love all the colours it's very pretty. <3 :-)

The boys are all well wrapped up them Mel in their lovely warm pressies :-D. They sounded really chuffed with them :-D

Now this Woodland Fairy Tiara... Is it for you? :-D ;-). I wish I was 'crafty' and be able to do some nice creative stuff. I just dont have the talent ,know how, or interest really. I think I must be the only 'gal' on the thread who is not artistic in any way at all . :-S

I am going to put the Meatloaf in now. I think an early dinner is in order.

Glad you got the recipe and could make it out Gill :-D

But Jane you do do a lot of new recipes and cook different things which is a craft in itself.

I have always made things from an early age. Never did much reading so my time was spent outdoors most days and fishing at weekends with mum and dad and grandad or uncles Les and family. Mum made things mostly dress making when I was young and she painted so I suppose its in the blood. I have a painting of hers hanging in the little loo. I can remember sitting in the armchair behind her when she started it buy painting on the tree and building in a light brown wash. When I looked at the date on it the other day it was painted in 1953 so I was 4. It was the first time she painted with a pallet knife and thats why I remember it I think.

Morning all

Dry day here today and quite warm too which makes a change from the cold mornings.

I was going to say the same as Mel Jane, you are cooking up a storm with all your new recipes which is an art in itself. :-D

Nothing much planned for today so I might take another look at OH's tree. I'm trying to get everyone down to the present day. I had some luck yesterday, the woman I've been in touch with (OH's cousin 1 time removed) has access to the 1939 register and found the relative I'd been looking for birthday, so now I've narrowed her birth record down to two possibilities. I might see if I can find her parents in the hope of finding which one of the two birth records is her's as both of them are in the same quarter and year and both woman have the same name.
That'll keep me out of trouble for a while ;-) :-D

What is everyone else up to today?

Morning Gill and all,

Quite a bright morning here today and I awoke to blue sky and cotton wool clouds but it getting a bit too cloudy now. It rained a lot last night.

I may do up Di presents today so I can see what I have for her and then if there's anything else I need to get. I buy her some bits and bobs as well as her main present.

Then I may have another go at this fairy crown. O I need to clean the big girls and bantams out but will see how the old back is after doing the big ones.

Gill you do know you have to ask living rellies if you can put them on your tree. You should'nt do it without permission as its against the law to have others details on a site.

It sounds like you're going to be busy today Mel. Yes I only put living relatives on with permission, although I have noticed that people don't always ask as I'm on a few trees which I didn't give permission for. I always hide my living relatives anyway so no one can see them, but I still ask if it's okay first.

Good morning to you all, Evening Kim.

Terrible night last night, went to bed early 10,00 pm Laid listening to the radio until after midnight. Felt Ros come in about 12.45. I was up again at 5.00 am reading my book. I had plenty of tea to keep me company. It started to get light outside about 7.00 am.

We didn't bother with a Takeaway last night. We had a few words over something or other and didn't speak for most of the evening.

I had the Pork salted on the skin and scored ready for the oven before 8.00 am and by 9.30 I had prepared all the veg, and emptied the rubbish into the Blue Bin outside. I got myself showered and dress and have been reading the paper.

I was going to ask Harvey and Julia up for the 3rd Dec. But Ros thinks cooking for 6, 7 (if Lewis comes) to much work for me. She has even suggested we take Simon and Sally out that day. NO WAY. I am not going to splash out over £100.00, when I am quite capable of cooking it myself, and in the comfort of our own home. If we want to sit around the table, we can do so,without being in the way in a restaurant.

I have a full leg of lamb in the freezer, so it will either be that or a small Turkey. I think the Lamb will be best, as we will all be fed up with all the turkey we will eat over Christmas.

Gill I have never heard that about the Pampas Grass. I must have a look around the village and see who the "SWINGERS" are. LOL LOL.

Mel, how nice of you, buying and making things for your "Adopted Grand Children" I know how the younger one feels, I always had by brothers "HAND ME DOWNS" If and when I had anything NEW it was always bought two sizes to big. I was always told you will grow into it !!!

Ros is in th front garden, de-heading plants and having a tidy round. One of the ladies from Stitchery Do call yesterday and remarked how nice the front garden looked with all the colour, she said there are hardly any gardens looking as nice as hers, So she was well chuffed !!!

Back to my book again now. Enjoy your day. xxx

Morning all,

Very frosty here this morning but the sun is shining so it's a lovely bright day.

It was last night Chelsea stayed over ,she's always good as gold here, its at home where she plays up ,son and family came so she's now gone home with them ,son said what a lovely quiet evening they had with out her there ,they all sat and watched the film Elf ,if she had been there she doesn't sit still for long before she annoys one of the others .
Max is worn out and curled up on the door mat fast asleep .

Jungle starts tonight :-)

Mandy I don't think I know any of the Jungles people this year. Perhaps I just don't watch the programs they are in. I bet the kids enjoyed Elf.

Iv'e done the big girls and opened a new bale of woodshavings. It is nothing like the last bale I had which was lovely planings I think. This is wood chips about an inch squareish and looks dirty to start with. Ok for a horse I suppose but I made sure I had the same make as last time. Just goes to show you have to buy it at the right time when the wood yards are fine planeing. It is dust free which is a good thing.

Just having a COC before getting the big breakfast at 1pm.

So how many swingers are there around your way Frank LOL :-D :-D :-D Ros does work hard in your garden doesn't she and now it's all paying off with compliments. Our neighbour over the back is cutting her hedge down. We're a bit worried when she gets to the middle as there is a few large branches entwined in our conifer trees, they are also very close to the fence I put in last year so we're hoping she doesn't just cut it low down as it will fall our way and damage our fence and trees. She's making a right mess on our side, but each time we go down there to see what's going on, she disappears into her house. I think she's trying to do it on the quite and doesn't realise we can see it moving from our bungalow. The only down side to her taking it away is that our conifers aren't that thick so we'll probably be able to see her house again and lose some of our privacy. Never mind at least we won't have all the mess each year when she has it cut. You've got to look on the positive side don't you? ;-)

What a shame about the wood shavings Mel, it mustn't of been nice to see it all dirty and not as nice as the last lot you got.

It sounds like you had a lovely time with Chelsea Mandy, did you do anything special with her. I think the others would of liked Elf. OH and Sandra will be watching Jungle, I'm not keen on it ,so will watch something else. I don't like watching them eat all sorts of weird stuff and then being ill....yuk. I do like the waterslide at the end though, so watch that one, it's so funny, pity they don't have more games like that, instead of all the horrible eating ones.

Going to dish up lunch now.

Afternoon All

SWINGERS !! I must have missed that LOL .What were you talking about?

Thankyou Mel and Gill for saying about me doing all new recipes :-D. They are all from recipe books or magazines so none made up by me. Got another one on the go today.
I dug out the Slow cooker and it has been cooking now for 6 hours. It is called South Amrican Slow cooked beef. But I am doing chicken. It has a sauce called Lemon and Chilli Peruvian sauce(from Waitrose), tin of chopped tomatoes, tin of Black Beans,Carrot,Celery,a Bay Leaf(from our tree), Lemon Thyme and Fresh Coriander.
I am thinking it might be a bit too spicy for me with the Chilli,but I have had a sniff and it doesn't smell too strong so I am keeping my fingers crossed. I will do rice to go with it. I can always have eggs if I dont like it :-D

Frank, it is lovely that Ros has managed to keep the garden looking so colourful.
If you do invite the extra folk for the lunch ,maybe you could do what a lot of people do and get someone to bring a starter and another to do a dessert ,and that way you will just have the Roast to do. That way it will lighten the load a bit :-D. I am sure they would be quite happy to do that.

Gill,I hope your neighbour will be careful and not cause damage to your side with her cutting her hedge. Funny how she scuttles back in when you go out LOL Does she really think you might not see what she is doing :-D :-D

Mel I suppose it is a bit of potluck with bags of wood shavings.It is not as though you can have a look beforehand. I hope they arent too mucky.

So Chelsea is naughty at her own place and not yours Mandy :-D. She must have been on good behaviour to get her sleepover with you :-D :-D

Chris has had to fix a bit plastic sheet over the woodshed as rain is getting in now,and we dont want damp wood. It will have to be a new one next year. Maybe a bought one . Chris made this one himself but it is knackered.

Dreaded Dentist tomorrow for me. He is an excellent Dentist but just bores the pants of everyone with his boring personality. Once he gets on a subject he just doesn't stop talking and it might be to do with the new Xray machine and how it was fitted and what it cost etc etc . I always feel sorry for the poor Dental Nurse who is stuck in the room with him ALL day . She must just 'zone out' as she will hear the same conversation over and over again. I dont think he is going ot be too impressed with my gums and plaque this time. But I will have to explain about these tablets and how they can make my gums bleed sometimes so I dont brush as hard as i maybe should. I will probably still get a bit of a lecture though :-S....Where are my ear plugs :-D :-D YAWN YAWN

Fitz popped in this morning to say hello. He was on his way to Stamford to see a film .He was saying that the Mum of his Sons partner has been diagnosed with MS and she is still in her early/mid 50's :-(
Then after the film in Stamford he was driving to Northampton to see 2 more films this evening after having a meal in his favourite Turkish place.

Just checked the slow cooker and the carrots still feel a bit hard ! This is now 6hours and 35 minutes :-S. I have the setting on low as it said.James skipped lunch thinking he would be eating by now ,so has just had some bread and marmite to keep him going LOL.

I have had a very itchy back from the back of my shoulders down to just under the back strap on my bra.It has been like it for a while now and driving me potty .Chris had a look and says all the skin is really dry . (its these tablets :-S :-S). So he has given me a good coating of my emollient cream. He says this was not in his marriage contract ,plus rubbing Ibuprofen Gel into my right buttock and lower back :-D. I had to warn James not to come into the kitchen this morning as he might have thought Chris and I were up to a bit of hows your father LOLOL . Those were the days
;-)

I love bread and marmite but it dos'nt always like me and gives me indigestion.

Jane I am sure oh would like most of the things you cook but I don't like a lot of herbs. It may be to do with this smell thing I have. I tend to stick to the things I know I can eat.

The bantams went straight to the rack today where I had put two slices of fruit bread. They have somehow got the last slice out and have eaten all the fruit out of it and left the bread bit.

Just off to bed but noticed your question about SWINGERS Jane. I said the other day that I was watching Gogglebox and Steven, Christopher's friend, said that if you have Pampas Grass in your front garden it means you're a swinger and how funny OH and I found it. Then Frank said he'd have to see how many swingers there were around his village, by looking for pampas grass in their gardens :-D OH and I still have a giggle about it as we have pampas grass, but thankfully it's in the back garden ;-) ;-) :-D