General Chat

Morning Mel, morning all

Sunny here today but with a nip in the air.

Sorry to hear you had a fall Mel, at least your knee is okay today, so that's good. I bet it smelt lovely at your place with the Christmas cake yesterday.

That's a lot of ATM machines Ann. I do feel sorry for the shop owners as it's not just the ATM's that are damaged when they break in is it?

What is Sally making for the sweet for Sunday Frank? That was nice of her to offer and like you said it saves you a job.

Hope all goes well for Richard today Anne. I'll keep my fingers crossed for good news. Is Ruby eating today? I've never seen an animal with a phantom pregnancy before. How long does it go on for if she's not actually pregnant? Hope you're feeling a bit better today after your sad day yesterday. Good news with Pat, it sounds like she's coming on well after her stroke.

Well, all the Christmas decorations are up in our living room, it looks so pretty. Sandra had her camera out and took a video of it. I ran out of space to put the candle bridge, so put it in Sandra's room. She is made up with it. We'll put her pink tree up one day next week.

It was so late last night when we'd finally finished the tree so I couldn't do the hoovering, so that's a job for this morning. Then I need to sort out all the empty boxes from the decorations so OH can pop them back up in the loft out of the way.
I recorded some more Christmas films yesterday for Sandra, so we'll probably watch those today.

What is everyone else up to?

Good morning Mel and Gill,ant to you all, Evening Kim,


I had a good night last night, in bed by 10.30 got up once in the night, and slept until 7.30. Had a wee and got back in bed till 9.30 when Ros bought in a COT.

She thinks the appointment for her operation will be about 16/20 weeks. She has to have someone to take her and collect her. SHE must not do anything for 6 weeks, so boy am I going to be busy. At least it will be summer time and she can sit on the patio and rat in the sunshine (I hope) !!! It was suggested that I might be able to get some help from AGE CONCERN. But me being me, I son't think I want strangers in my house. ;-) ;-) ;-)

Nice to see you are back Anne and that Ruby is still nursing her PIG LOL LOL They are so funny !!! Hope Richard gets on alright with his Check up. !! Try to keep your chin up also my love. As it's already been said you have your Memories, they are so important to us all. xx

Don't you start trying to take over from ME MEL. I'm the one that falls A over H. LOL Glad you are feeling O.K. this morning. xx

All decked out noe then Gill. Thats a big job out of the way. I bey Sandra is well made up with it all. Bless her.

That was a good lunch Jane. What programme had the adds for the cigars, I thought they had stopped smokings adverts. ?? I will have to look on GOOGLE for something to go with Smoked Salmon. At Christmas we put it on toast with tomato and cress as a nibble around breakfast time. I don't think somehow that would be good as a starter.

Ros is ironing now before going to have her nails done. I must find something out for dinner. Last night I had a frozen Lamb Hotpot which was rubbish, and Ros had a prawn something to other, which she threw most of it away. It's all very well getting these prepared meals, but if they aren't enjoyed, they are a waste of money. I will do a small roast tonight I think. Must more enjoyable and a lot better for you.

Nice sunny morning here, Ros just mentioned there is snow in Scotland and people are sending photo's to "This Morning" I hope that's not a sing of things to come for us, even thought SANDRA will be a HAPPY girl !!!!

Afternoon All,

Sunny and cold here. Saw my beading pals this morning and we keep finding lovely patterns to swap! :-) Everyone liked my sprig of greenery brooch I'd made. The cats barely blink when we arrive now and one came and sat under the table where we were for a while. Then I met OH at The Dovecote for lunch but they didn't have the pork fillet I love today so I succumbed to the ham off the bone with egg and chips!! :-S

Anne Ruby is a little darling isn't she with her 'baby'. It is still recent as time goes since you lost Peter so it must be sad at times for you. Pat seems to be doing well so that is good and hope Richard's appointment went well today.

You are right about the damage Gill. One of the beading ladies said today that the one they did in her village caused structural damage too. She said it was one that was inside the shop too, so obviously putting them inside a shop is no deterrent. They drove the digger straight through the outside wall!! :-0

Your knee sounds ok Mel which is lucky after that fall. It may stiffen up a bit later today though,

I used to always be browsing around shops this time of the year too Jane, but it is hard work now and shops have become quite samey, the little individual shops have gone! Our Asda has a click and collect drive in section outside. You just park there and they bring your goods you have ordered from ebay etc out to you. You don't even need to get out of your car. OH keeps asking what I want for Christmas and I really don't know. There are things I would like eg. one of those craft desks that has opening doors with dozens of compartments in that I could use my sewing machine on but where to put it?

The new neighbour seems to have a car the same make, model and colour as the old neighbour........unless he's back again!

It sounds like your old neighbour is like a boomerang and keeps coming back Ann, unless like you said, the new neighbours have the identical car. If the thieves are using JCB's it's only a matter of time before one of the buildings falls on them. Has it just started happening with it being close to Christmas or it is something all year around? I bet all the shop owners are worried it might happen to them. Have the police caught anyone yet?

Yes, Frank a big job out of the way now and all ready for Christmas. I've just done the hoovering so no more snow bits on the carpet and I've sorted out all the rooms, they were full of empty boxes and bits and bobs including the solar lights we boxed up the other day, so everywhere is nice and tidy now. I've also made a pork stew for dinner with the left over pork from our dinner yesterday. I love pork so OH and Sandra made a lovely roast yesterday for my birthday yum yum.

So you're going to be busy helping Ros when she has her op? I would except some help if I was you, as you'll be no good to her if you over do things and become to tired . Our neighbour has a bit of help in the mornings getting showered and dressed, which really helps her daughter who looks after her for most of the day. It might be worth thinking about.

How did Richard get on with his appointment today Anne....good I hope?

Is your knee still okay Mel, hope it hasn't stiffened up on you.

Going to put a load of washing on now, then take another look at OH's tree, I haven't looked at it for a few days and I'm getting withdrawal symptoms LOL ;-)

Good afternoon all

Richard rang to say his appointment went well and he doesn't have to go back for a year now which is good news. Paul dropped him off in Bracknell to see if he can spot any black Friday deals and then he was going to the cinema [not sure what film he is going to see] Paul being on a late shift was going on to work

Mark rang the other day which is unusual for him to say he had been given an award for mentoring a young teenage boy that had a lot of issues he was having problems with, this was all part of Mark volunteering to work with autistic adults during the week, I think this is helping him to understand his own Aspergers personality.

Pleased to hear you have no lasting damage to your knee Mel but it must have shaken you up at the time.

I can imagine Ros is going to find it difficult taking a break from being so busy all the time Frank but you must also be careful not to over do it

Ruby is eating today but still carrying her little pig every where and is now cuddling up to me with it.

A day of good news for you today Anne. I'm so pleased everything went well for Richard and how wonderful for Mark to receive an award for all his hard work, you must be so proud <3 Good news too with Ruby eating again. Did Richard find any bargains around the shops?

Afternoon to you all,

Have been on Google looking at starters for Smoked salmon. So many things and ideas that I am more confused than I was. LOL I think I will settle for "CROUSTADES" they say they are filled with bits and pieces, and you just top with smoked salmon. Ros will try to buy some tomorrow. I can't print anything as the Coloured ink has run out.

No idea what Sally is making for a sweet. But I am sure it will be nice.

Good news for Richard Anne. That will stop you worrying xxx Great for Mark to get an award.

I tried to wait for Ros to come home from the nail place before I showered. As she hadn't arrived home by 1.45 I ventured in on my own. I only stumbled a couple of times. !! I managed to get dried off and put a dressing gown on. I was glad to get my bum on a chair. When Ros got home I went and got shaved and dressed.

West Ham are on SKY SPORTS tonight, but I don't think I will bother going out. I am feeling quite washed out and in a lot of discomfort down my right side, including a horrible headache. That is part and parcel to my stroke. The Doctors did warn me about the headaches, they do wear off after a few hours. so I will just sit and take things easy tonight. I must get the oven on for dinner. I only just realised the time. So it could be late tonight.

Afternoon All

It is freezing now. I just poked my nose out the back door to see if Thomas was there.Brrrrrrrr!!.

Ann, I wonder if it WAS the man who had moved out. Maybe he came to see if the new people had moved in ok !!!!!. It does seem a bit strange if they both had the same car !!!!

Frank,what ready meals do you get?I find that the Tesco Finest range are really good. I know they cost a bit more than the notmal kind of ready meals but think it is worth paying that bit more. James has am M&S ready one for tonight as he will be wanting to be away as soon as he can to Jess. I thought he was going to Nottingham with work colleagues to the Dog races but that is next weekend.He is taking the friday afternoon off and has booked himself a room at a Hotel for that night.

Mel I am glad your knee has not caused you any trouble today. That was a lucky escape really.

Ann,the nerve these people have when they get these ATMs. I can never understand how they manage to actually get away as they they are often in a residential kind of area and it must take a good few minutes to smash the wall and get the machine out.

Chris and I went over to Rushden Lakes this morning to collect James's shoes from House of Fraser and a new printer from click and collect from Waitrose. WE had forgotten it was Black Friday and when we saw the traffic going into the Rushden Lakes shops we thought we would never get a space but luckily I spotted someone just pulling out of a space right near the H of F shop. One great feature in House of Fraser is an Eco wall . It goes all the way up beside the escalator .Just a huge wall of beautiful real greenery.It was lovely.

Gill you must be looking so festive now with all the decs and lights up.Sandra will love the candle arch in her room.Is in in the window ? I bet she is so looking forward to her pink tree going up now too. :-D :-D

I have wrapped 3 presents :-D :-D. I seemed to take ages and I dont know why really as they were all in boxes so easy shapes to wrap. Anyway it is a start. I think Chris might be going on one of his walks tomorrow morning and someone needs to be in for a parcel that will need signing for so I might get wrapping then.

I can see the most beautiful Crescent Moon.

Oh dear now I see on the news a dreadful bomb attack on a mosque in Egypt with so many deaths and something going on right now in Oxford St .Everyone has been told to stay in buildings !.. :-(

That's good news about Richard Anne. Mark must be chuffed about his award too. It must be very rewarding to help people with autism and as you say I can see it may help him with his aspergers.

I bet Sandra is really excited now the tree is decorated and her pink tree to be done next. :-) I think the police are questioning some men about the break in.

The eco wall sounds lovely Jane. OMG you were lucky with it being Black Friday to just fall right for that parking spot! OH has just said about the London trouble. He said he felt a bit apprehensive going to Birmingham last Friday. I suppose they will do these things now there are lots of Christmas shoppers about.

It looks like you will be at the seaside for Christmas after all Frank. Yes, I think you should get some help if you can as well while Ros is recovering. You don't want to wear yourself out. OH is watching the match on tv tonight as well.

Well done to your Mark Anne :-D :-D. He must be very proud of his achievement to ring and tell you. Great news for Richard too . Another clear year for him :-D

Oh Ruby and her little baby !!! <3

Frank when Ros has her op and can't do anything strenuous for so long please dont be a stubborn old bu****.If you need a bit of help then you must ask for it. You know you will get an ear bashing from us lot :-D :-D .I do understand you saying you dont want strangers in your house but sometimes it is just necessary and the best thing(just for a little while)

All seems fine in London again now. I always get goosebumps when we get breaking news about an incident in London as I am never really sure where Hannah or Gareth might be.

Well it looks like James is not going to get an early get away tonight. He is still at work !! and when he does finish it will take him a good 40 minutes or so to drive home.I have the oven on ready to put his meal in

I ordered a couple of items of clothing this morning. I decided to ring the company rather than do it on line .Which was the best thing really as when I got through the lady said their system had crashed but someone would ring me back as soon as it was up and running again. Which they did :-D.. That wouldnt have happened if I had tried ordering on line.
When I picked up James's shoes the girl there said their system had crashed this morning too. No doubt all to do with Black Friday LOL
James is now on the way home so I will get his meal in and once he has eaten I will do ours.

Evening all,

It's been a nice sunny day but a lot colder ,there was a little frost here first thing too.

So good news for Richard today Anne you must be relieved ,well done to Mark too for his award .
Poor little Ruby carrying her little pig about and thinking it's her baby bless her ,it's good that she is eating today .

You were very lucky Mel that your not black and blue after your fall ,that decking can be very slippery as i remember being very careful when son had some and i walked on it when it was wet .
How are the girls ?are you getting more eggs now they are all settled in with you .

Frank your going to be really busy after Ros has her op , with it all those weeks away though you have plenty of time to get things sorted and work out how your going to manage things and you know now that you can go away for christmas .

Ann how strange your old neighbour coming back to the bungalow each day ,the new owners carn't surely have the same colour and make of car ,how strange that would be .
Sounds as if your all enjoying meeting up for beading and swapping patterns ,is the greenery brooch the latest make ?

So your tree is all up and decorated Gill, i bet Sandra carn't wait for her little pink tree to go up now .
Do you think the snow will reach you over the weekend ? fingers crossed for Sandra to see some this year .

You've made a start on wrapping your christmas presents then Jane ,i think i'll do a few over the weekend ,we've bought the children new winter coats so i'll get those done first i think ,it's surprising how much paper they take as each year the coats get larger !!
You were lucky to get the parking space this morning ,this black friday thing is crazy ,is it another american thing !!
I'm sure i heard them say some thing about monday on the news but i carn't remember what they are calling it now , just another gimmick to get people spending more money .

Mandy one wrapped parcel is already unwrapped !!!. James knew I had got the shoes, but I mentioned that they looked quite pointy at the toe end.He has wide feet so I just said to try them on now and if they aren't right it is best they go back now rather than wait until after Christmas when the time for sending back might have run out.So that is a bit of wrapping paper wasted now :-S A big bit !... Size 11 its a long box !!
You are going to need loads of paper to wrap all those coats !!!!

I was wondering about the snow and if it was going to get down as far as Gill. Even a few flurries would be great for Sandra to see now especially with just getting the tree and decs up :-D... I would love to see a bit of snow this winter. It has been a long time now since we had any.

At least we can buy rolls of christmas paper now for the bigger things ,years ago christmas paper was bought by the sheet !!

So did the shoes fit ?
Son takes a size 12 shoe and has wide feet.

That little minx Max has just been in the loo and dragged the loo roll out in his mouth , second time this week soggy loo roll LOL

We've just had some hail so you never know we might get some snow too Mandy. I think Sandra would be so excited to see it, she'd have OH and I out there straight away to make a snowman with her. The last time we had snow was on Boxing Day 2014, it started after dark and unfortunately had all gone by the morning, she was so excited to see it and then so disappointed when it didn't last long enough to make a snowman.

Did the shoes fit James, Jane? You'll have to wrap them up again if they did. You're right it is best he tries them on so they can be changed now rather than later. I won't mention to Sandra that he opened one of his presents, it might give her ideas LOL :-D All my presents are wrapped and ready for delivery. I'm so ahead of myself this year, so I can just relax now. I've only got a few more bits of food to buy nearer the time and my Christmas cards to write out and of course Sandra's pink tree to put up and decorate with her. The candle bridge in on her cupboard, the window sill isn't deep enough and her bed is right in front of it so she might of knocked it over. She loves it and said it was her first bit of Christmas in her room.....bless her.

I was wondering how you might be feeling Jane when I listened to the news earlier with all that business in London. I can't imagine what it must feel like. I'm so pleased it came to nothing in the end.

Just noticed your post Mandy, so Max is auditioning for the Andrex adverts now then. ;-) ;-)

I hope Max hasn't taken a liking to loo rolls Mandy or he'll be pinching them every time. Is he trying to be an ANDREX PUPPY like in the adverts! lol. :-D I remember sending off for a toy one of those years ago........it may be in the loft. The coats could be awkward to wrap, but if they are in polythene it will be easier. Didn't paper used to be thin years ago as well and with some you could see through it to the present! Yes I made the brooch last night. It's only a simple bit of greenery with Holly berries but gives a bit of sparkle! I'll send a pic tomorrow. I'm finishing off a nice Christmassy necklace at the moment. I need to get it the right length so it sits nicely.

I'd like a bit of snow too.....I'd be off with my camera if we get some. Sandra would be over the moon and wanting to make a snowman.

I just noticed Gill had already thought of the Andrex adverts. :-)

Been helping someone with reading a will and cleared out two of the kitchen draws and oh got the bottom draw back too so its not sticking out anymore. Hav'nt read your posts yet but will do so in the morning.

Night night.

Morning all,

Only just got up a little while ago. We have a covering of hailstone on parts of the garden and it looks just like snow. Its all on the roof of my car but where the suns got to it its melted. Out the back in the shade of the trees its still there.

Right I shall now read yesterdays posts.

Good morning all, evening Kim,

Ros had a terrible night last night, so has rung Martine to say she's not going out to play LOL

There is nothing I can do but keep her supplied with whatever she wants and keep everywhere warm. This prolapsed bladder is causing her so much trouble. She keeps feeling she needs the loo, this is happening every hour day and night. I wanted her to stay in bed, but typical of her, she's sitting on the sofa in her dressing gown, not wanting anything. She got James Martin on cooking programme so she's happy.

I haven't read the posts, I just wanted to know we are alright. !!xx

Good morning all, evening Kim,

Ros had a terrible night last night, so has rung Martine to say she's not going out to play LOL

There is nothing I can do but keep her supplied with whatever she wants and keep everywhere warm. This prolapsed bladder is causing her so much trouble. She keeps feeling she needs the loo, this is happening every hour day and night. I wanted her to stay in bed, but typical of her, she's sitting on the sofa in her dressing gown, not wanting anything. She got James Martin on cooking programme so she's happy.

I haven't read the posts, I just wanted to know we are alright. !!xx