General Chat

Here I am back just as it was getting dark. They had the road I usually take closed off today so I had to go right round the diversion that started at Monkleigh. That road always seems to go on forever to get to Land Cross where I usually come out.

I did the High St and got a couple of the bits I wanted but did'nt manage to get to the wool shop for more felt. I need more white and some greens. I did however go into M & Co and looked for a waterproof coat as the thin one I keep in the car has velcro on it and it has made all the stitching on my handbag go fluffy around the zip. I found one I liked and it was £116 pound marked down to £89.00 I tried it and it was ok but a little tight around the back but I did have a thick cardi on and a fleece sleeveles plus two cotton long sleeved tops. Anyway I went to pay for it and the girl said £59 please. I asked her if that was right and she said it was so I was well pleased. Oh bought me a pair of socks in there too but he dos'nt know it yet. I could'nt resist them as they have hedgehogs on on a pale blue back ground.

Bought a nice square scarf thing for aunty Joy and some bits for oh too so a good time was had before I did the shopping.

Gill I bet the boots will turn up after the funeral as thats what happens usually.

Ann have you found your stick yet?

Mandy I saw for the first time today those big bows the girls put in their hair now. They were in Poundstretcher.

Sandra will be so please dto get the tree up early and with the Christmas films on the telly she is really into the Christmas spirit now.

Yes I wonder where our Anne is and hope she is ok too. Sending love if you look in Anne. <3

A cardi,fleece and 2 long sleeved tops !!!!!...Crikey Mel that was a lot of layers. I would have expired with all that on. I still go out in short sleeves with maybe a thin cardie.
That sounded a really good bargain :-D

Mandy that snake he pulled out ..he said it was a Python LOLOL .It looked a very skinny snake to me .

I was looking at your pic of Chelsea by your fire again and spotted you have your Fire Gloves on top of the logs.. Just the same as me :-D. Chris never leaves the gloves on the logs but down beside the basket. I just think it is easier to grab a glove from the top of the log pile :-D :-D

I haven't seen any houses yet with Christmas lights . I bet it will be very soon though. I know the house that will be the first. It is the same one every year.

Just ready now to try this Venison and Beer Hotpot .

I will send Anne an email and see if she is ok.

Evening All,

I had a bad night last night and woke up feeling quite faint and boiling hot and had to sit up for a couple of hours before going back to sleep.

Well after the 6 hours and the removal van leaving the couple were still there over 2 hours later so I presumed they were cleaning the place. You'd have thought they'd be wanting to do that or start getting straight at the new house. But OH said they were back at the bungalow again this morning with dusters and brooms in their hands when he spoke to them, so obviously more cleaning!!

We have learned that our nearby elderly neighbour who seemed frail and who we were worried about has, after much persuasion from her niece, gone into a nursing home in Nottingham and her bungalow is to go up for sale shortly. It is such a shame, as she was so self sufficient and grew her own vegs in the back garden and drove her little Peugeot till earlier this year. She told me once that she was a MBE and was obviously very proud of it.

I met with my sister at a garden centre at lunchtime. I can hardly believe we are related sometimes as we are so different! It was pouring with rain by the time we left so we had to hang about ages till it eased. Driving home was no pleasure as it was dark, raining and the lanes were unlit with no visible road markings. The traffic near home was so bad it took me half an hour to do the last 2 miles.

I like rocket and used to grow it but some garden pest used to make holes in the leaves. Marmite I can't stand, yet OH loves it! The same with turkish delight.

It's lucky your shoes and coat will fit Sandra Gill, so she is all sorted for the funeral now.

That was a good saving on your coat Mel.

Evening all, I am lost dropping off to sleep with boredom. I keep flicking through the channels, but can't find anything that interests me.

I was watching those two old Italians (one died this week) They were at a pasta factory, the biggest in Italy. They use 60,000 eggs every day. Where on earth do they get all those from. ?? They also went to a home for the druggies and drunks, and people living rough. There are two thousand living there. They make sausages and cheese that sells all over the world. What a great scheme to get people backing real life.

That was a good bargain Mel, I bet you spent the rest on something nice LOL LOL. I like that your OH has bought you some socks. You cheeky thing xx

No lights up her either Jane, I bet Ros will want the tree and decorations up before Simon and Sally come on the 3rd. It is our pre Christmas get together after all. !!!

I see we are in for some heavy winds in the next 24 hours 40/50 mph. It could bring branches off of trees. So be careful where you drive tomorrow. xx

I went to scrape some food off my plate this evening, and caught a bottle of beer that was on the table. It went down like a bomb, exploded on the tiled floor and beer and glass went everywhere. It took us ages to clear it up, and the floor is still a bit sticky. The best of it is, Ros cleaned it this morning.

I have just empties the D/W. and put everything away. Cups ready for the morning as is my glass with my Aspirin.. Which reminds me I HAVEN'T HAD MY TABLETS TONIGHT.

I will love and leave you, sleep tight all, love to Anne if she's looking in. xxx

Yes Jane we keep the glove on the basket that we have the odd bits of wood Colin has chopped up ,the logs we store by the fire , we only use the right hand glove the left one is like new , the right one is really worn and Colin has put tape on one of the fingers LOL i think we saw a pair in Mole Valley so we'll have to grt another pair .

Mel sounds as if you got a good bargain with the coat ,i like the OH got me some socks but he doesn't know it yet :-D :-D

I liked that too Mandy and Jane. If I see a little something I want I buy it for him to give to me and then I get what I want or will use instead of things that are no use to me. The thing is I just love socks.........................they have to be really pretty or quirky or just take my fancy. They had some hedgehog socks in Morrisons last year but they were in a pack of three and I did'nt like the others.

Oh has just come out for some rennie so his curry did him no good tonight!! I had smoked haddock sweetcorn and a jacket potato.

Signing out now so night night and I'll see you in the morning.

Morning all,

Very windy here this morning and dull and cloudy too. It makes you feel so miserable when the weathers like this. Everywhere is wet and soggy out there as it rained last night and for most of the night by the feel of the ground this morning.

I was in the loo yesterday and looked up and there's a huge cobweb from the top of the window to nearly the middle of the ceiling. I must have that down today!! The thing is I come out of there and then forget all about it!!

Morning All,

Sunny but very windy here this morning. I worry a bit about our tall pine tree on the front when it blows like this. It could do some damage if it came crashing down! I slept like a log last night and feel much better this morning.

We hate receiving 'surprises' at Christmas Mel and we do lists or I get things I will like when I see them for OH to buy like you did with the socks. I still haven't found my stick but will be sorting another wardrobe today so, you never know, I may strike lucky!! It's a shame you couldn't get your felt. So many of the old wool shops have closed around here it's hard to find what you want. I still want to do a knitted cat draught excluder for the lounge door and am keeping an eye open for some suitable wool.

I wish you could buy packs of right handed gloves!! Someone would make a mint if they did that as I find my household gloves and gardening gloves all end up with all the right hand ones wearing out first. :-S

I looked out of the bedroom window this morning and our neighbour that moved out on Monday is back yet again!! He was here a couple of hours but has gone again now. I thought he might be still here when the new neighbours move in today. lol. OH has moved his car up the close so we won't get trapped in.

Better get showered and pop out now. We are going to see if our fav carvery is on today. They hardly ever put it on now, so we haven't been for ages, but with Christmas drawing closer they may have more people coming.

Morning Mel and All, Evening Kim.

Nothing to report from this end really.

That wind is certainly getting up. Roa has gone to be weighed at her slimmers club. Good news I hope.

While she was out last night, I emptied the D/W and had to clean two dishes in the bowl. They never seem to get everything clean. (Not like the adverts) LOL

I see the boxer did a better job last night. The public seem to have taken to putting him forward for the trials. He wasn't the best Husband, cheating on his wife. like he did. I expect that's why he is getting picked on.

Just had a call from ROS. She has lost TWO AND A HALF POUNDS this week. One more pound and it will be HALF A STONE. She is so chuffed. <3 <3 <3

Ros is making a GLUTON FREE Christmas Cake for Conrad. I have got her Kenwood out of the cupboard. That was a wedding present almost 40 years ago. She has bought all the ingredients , so I expect she will start on that this afternoon.

That left hand glove would get plenty of wear from me, being left handed. The right hand one wouldn't get used LOL LOL.

I will have to try to make something nice for dinner tonight, to celebrate Madam loosing this weight. I hope it will continue, not that I think she's FAT for a women of 73. who has a lot of restrictions due to her health. I STILL LOVE HER <3 <3 <3

I see the quilts are gradually going down. I think she has 4 more to do. Then she will pack everything away till after Christmas.

How are you all doing with your shopping ?? Not long to go now my sweeties. xxx

Morning all

It's raining here today. :-(

I've just put the Christmas tree up as a surprise for Sandra and had just finished assembling it when she woke up so that was good timing. We normally do it on my birthday so she wasn't expecting it to go up until tomorrow. The only problem is we can't find the lights, so OH is back up in the loft looking for them. Hopefully he'll find them so they can go on today and then we'll decorate the rest of the tree tomorrow, like we do each year.

I haven't caught up with the posts yet, so will do that later as there are bits all over the bungalow off the snow tree, so I'll have to hoover everywhere now.

Ann same here with my rubber gloves. I do use them in the garden after till the end of the fingers go. Never leave your rubber gloves in the sunshine always keep them in the dark if poss.

Frank perhaps us right handed girls should send you our left gloves and you could send us your right ones!! Well done Ros losing 2 and a half pounds. She was disappointed last week because she had'nt lost anything so this week has made up for it. Nearly there you clever girl.

Only one more sleep till your birthday Gill. Will your present be surprises?

Its blowing a real gale here and the kitchen door keeps blowing open. I shall have to see if there's a window open somewhere. We've had lashing rain as well.

Well, the lights weren't in the loft I found them in a box in the spare bedroom. Thankfully they still work, hopefully they'll keep on working all through Christmas. We bought them over 10 years ago and out of the original 200 only about 50 of them are now working. Good job I bought some more the other week.

6 hours was a long time to pack up one small bungalow wasn't it Ann? At least they told you so you could get your car out for your appointments.

That was nice of Val to give you some more books Frank. What type are they?

Yes, one more sleep before my birthday Mel. I haven't got a clue what I'm getting off Sandra and OH so it'll be a surprise. The only thing I do know about is a box of Black Magic off OH. I love dark chocolate yum yum You got a bargain with your coat, my sister gave me a coat the other day for my birthday as she can't make it here on the day, it's lovely and warm. I did laugh over the comment of the socks LOL

The reason the funeral is next week Jane is because the funeral people were booked solid until then, but it works out better for Ruth's son as he can't get back over here until this weekend.

Well, I'd better go and put the lights on the Christmas tree, it's raining so getting quite dark and the tree is where our lamp normally goes so I need the Christmas lights sorted before long. I'm not keen on having the main lights on, it's not very cosy.

Just boiled up my Christmas cake ready for cooking tomorrow.

It is ever so windy here and I am just going to attempt to corn the chickens will report back to let you know I was'nt blown away. If I don't come back within half an hour you'll know I have.

I'm back safe and sound but nearly got blown backward when going to the run and again on the way back it blew me along rather quickly. :-0

The wind's dropped a little here now but it is really gloomy and threatening rain! The carvery was on today and they had the all their usual greenery with white Xmas lights twinkling, very festive. We called in a little garden centre on the way home and their decorations were far better than at the big garden centre I met my sister at yesterday.

Frank, Ros is doing really well with nice steady weight loss. I wonder how Martine did this week. It must help keep you on track if you do it with a friend. I shall be glad when the schools break up so I get the dining table back. OH does his notes in there but uses all of it fully opened which makes it harder to clean around or for me to use for any sewing.

Well the new neighbours arrived after we went for lunch and only took about 4 hours this time. They had a bit of a job to manoeuvre the lorry out with lots of going forwards and backwards so I suspect our drive may have been used when they came when OH's car wasn't there.

Pleased to see you're back safe and sound Mel ;-) ;-) and your girls are sorted for today. The wind has picked up a bit here so I hope the conifer we moved the other week doesn't blow over.

Ros is doing really well with her diet Frank. Let's hope it's not all undone over Christmas. It mustn't be easy being on a diet with all that lovely food around, but she seems determined to lose weight so has plenty of will power by what you've been saying.

So you have new neighbours now then Ann, let's hope they don't have any cats that take a liking to your garden. Did you find something in the end to stop the cat harming your plants?

OH ended up putting the first lot of lights on our tree as I was struggling. The tree is 7 foot and I'm only about 5 foot. He went around the tree in a spiral. We're just about to put the second lot on now, the ones I bought the other week. I said to OH I might just take them from side to side rather than all the way around as the tree is in a corner so hopefully it won't show. Some of the first lot are at the back so it won't look odd.

Afternoon Everyone
The wind is getting much stronger here now. Good job we were able to get the empty recycling bins in early this morning as who knows where the might have ended up !!

Poor Thomas came in just now already to have a little settle down .But we did his flea treatment on the back of his neck and he has scarpered out again. I hope the wind doesn't pick him up and carry him away !!!!.

Good Ros for losing 2 and a half pounds this week. She is doing great :-D

Gill your lights have lasted a long time. I always dread getting ours out just incase they dont work. I think the ones I have now are only one or two years old so hopefully they will be ok..
Mel I think you have the worst of the wind down your way. At least the girls are done now for the day and you wont need to go out again.

We have ordered the coffee machine for Hannah and Gareth . It was £99 and had £100 off !!!!!!. So that was a really good buy. I managed to order James's shoes two .Only 2 pairs left so that was lucky. I got a couple more presents this morning in town ,and the Jigsaw Puzzle i ordered the other day arrived just now. Everything is piling up in my bedroom now so I think I might start wrapping a few things tomorrow.

Are you doing anything tomorrow for your birthday Gill? Hopefully the weather isnt going to be like today for you.

Chris is in the Summerhouse so I must hide a couple of pressies away while he out there.

Ann, Iwas wondering if the c hap didn't really want to move out LOL what with him keep coming back and even today !!!!! Had he been there long? Are the new folk elderly or young family?

Gill that is a good idea just to put the lights on from side to side and not right the way round. Our tree is always in front of the side window which is at the back of the house so I tend to not put many decorations around the back. No-one sees .I do do the lights all the way round though as it is nice to see the reflection of them in the window. I always get grumpy when I do the lights as neither Chris or James are keen on helping me do that :-S....Probably because they know I will be grumpy LOL. They stay well out of the way.

Hi all, I haven't got my glass's on, so I may make some mistakes, I had a job reading what you all said !!!

Roa just called out the the "Two Greedy Italians" are eating WHOLE COOKED FROGS, how disgusting is that. I would be sick just thinking of it.

Glad you got your tree up and lights working Gill. We will get ours sorted at the weekend no doubt.

That wind must be doing some damage. It has blown two BIG pot plants over. I will sort those tomorrow.

Ros has made the cake, the trouble is it's in the oven until 6.30 so dinner will be late tonight. I just hope it's done and doesn't need anymore time. I suppose I could order a takeaway. That's if they can get here. !!!

Jane, Ros piles presents in cupboards in the bedroom, and there are loads in box's in the conservatory. Being it's only a small bungalow. Space is very precious at the best of times. The dining room table is also stacked with cards waiting to be posted and delivered locally plus more presents presents. So gawd knows where she is going to put everything when Simon and Sally come Sunday week.

Have we had any contact with our Anne, I do hope everything is alright in the family. xxx

I have started my new book, it's a thriller the same as the previous one, and I expect the other one Val gave be will b the same, as they are from the same Author.

Ros has been feeling under the weather today, I have put a HEAT PATCH on her back, as it's so sore. Hope it get better later. I must put heat patches on the shopping kist. That was the last one.

Have a good evening all, and if you go out be CAREFUL in this wind. xx

Well Mel 'Poppins' made to the run and back safely then!! It is really windy though.

We both said it didn't look like the old neighbour wanted to go too Jane. lol We couldn't believe our eyes when he was back again this morning. I think he must have come quite early as there was a bit of noise outside at 8.00am when the neighbour's son in the corner and next door to him discovered a flat tyre. He took his dad's car and left his dad blowing up the tyre on his. OH saw the old neighbour chatting to him so he must have arrived while the tyre was being sorted. I saw the new neighbour (I think!) when the van was leaving as he came outside. He looks to be at least in his 50s and has a shaven head. There are no young families in the close but two bungalows have a grown up son living at home. I think that will change when the builder sells the house he built though. You got a bargain with the coffee maker didn't you! :-)

I used to put sprigs of Holly in the soil among my heathers at my old house Gill. The cats used to leave coils like cumberland sausage all over the heather bed. It was disgusting to clear up!! I hoped it deterred a few from squatting there if they found the Holly sprigs with their botties. :-) This is from them spraying though and it seems when I remove a plant they do it on they move onto another shrub, so more are ruined so I've left the latest dead ones for now. I'm sure they are marking their territory, then others try to claim it. Its a good idea not to put the other lights round the back of the tree. They will be easier to remove after Christmas as well.