General Chat

Morning all

Frosty start to the day but the sun is out now and melted the frost away.

The present sounds ideal Mel, it's just the type of thing I could do with. A big conifer branch fell over our garden in a massive storm years ago and it's still stuck there, with it not coming away from the main tree we need something to cut it down. It's right in the corner of our garden and not easy to get to. I'd love to see a picture of it if you don't mind. Where did you buy it from?

So Colin and Frank have been accident prone, I hope they are both okay today.

How is Janice today Jane, that was a long wait for her, hope she's not in to much pain now. I think you're right Hannah should stop the boxing for now otherwise she's going to look black and blue on her special day and that wouldn't look good on the photo's would it?

I haven't heard of the helicopter crash, mind you I haven't seen the news for two days. It sounds bad though from what you have all been saying.

Did anyone watch the F1 the other day? Lewis Hamilton won his 5th world championship title. Hopefully at the next race his team will win the constructors title too. I was surprised Seb went and congratulated Lewis, he normally sulks when he loses. It was nice to see him being kind for a change.

Yes, mum was mean to me the other day Ann, but I'm sort of used to it now so I just leave her to it until she's calmed down. Although I did stick up for myself which she didn't like and she kept saying "I haven't done anything wrong" clearly she wasn't listening to me then. No doubt she'll of been on her phone to everyone in the family pulling me to bits and not telling the truth. Sandra stuck up for me, bless her, but then mum shouted at her saying "Don't you start" so we left and came home. I wasn't going to have mum picking on Sandra as well, she's already called her names at the beginning of the year, which really upset her and made her cry, so I wasn't going to let it happen again. I think it's just become a habit for mum to be nasty sometimes, so she doesn't realise what she's doing, well, that's the only thing I can think of for her behaviour.

I don't know if my sister came around yesterday as we went out to our neighbours daughters place at 9am and didn't get home until after 8pm. I was so tired last night I just had some beans and egg on toast, had a bath and went to bed. I was in bed by 11pm, which is very early for me.

We're going back tomorrow to help her move her furniture around as she's having a new bed delivered for her room and floor covering for the spare bedroom, so we need to move everything down stairs, the stairs are steep and turn a lot, so that should be interesting to do. It's quite a small place and she can't managed on her own with having hip problems, so we said we'd help her. Then on Thursday we're hoping to go and order a new freezer and fridge. With a bit of luck I might have some spare time on Friday to start the insulation lol :-D :-D
It sounds like you're going to have a great day out, hope the weather isn't to cold. Sorry to hear your mum was the same as mine, I know how it feels.
I'm just grateful I have such wonderful friends on here. <3 <3

Sandra is so happy today, this morning there were so many little birds on the new feeder, she was really excited. OH was up just before us and was having a cuppa outside, he said the squirrel tried to get onto the feeder but with me putting lots of Vaseline all over it he just kept slipping off, so jumped back onto the fence, it looks like he's given up now. I think I've put the planter in the right place as it's in between the two large red robins I have in pots, they are around 10 foot high so the little birds go in there then over to the feeder then back into the plants. Sandra thinks it's great. I've had a look online to identify the birds we've had and there has been robins, great tit's, blue tits, coal tit's and I think some Wren's, although the small brown birds all the look the same to me, so it might not of been a Wren. But Sandra is absolutely thrilled with them all. A pigeon tried to get onto the feeder but was to big and a magpie took a look to, but thankfully only the tiny birds can get on there. While they were feeding we had two squirrels chasing each other around on the lawn, so needless to say Sandra is really happy today <3 <3

Missed your post there Frank.

Sorry to hear about your mum, like I said to Ann I know how it feels. It's nice that we can all talk openly to each other and not be judged isn't it? You know we are all hear anytime you need to vent. That's what friends are for.

Oh dear what a dilemma maybe it is a good idea to tell someone else. But what a horrible man to do something like that. I hope it's sorted soon.

Afternoon Everyone

Janice was home this morning. Larry said he thought it was too early really considering she only had the G A last night. But she is happy to be back in her own bed although in quite a lot of pain. I hope it all goes well on Thursday Mandy for BIL and that is straightforward this time. It seems he and my Sister are unlucky with knees.

I hope you were wrong about that chap pocketing £2 coins Frank .It would be maybe because the £2 coins dont go through the slot? Just a thought. I think you are right to pass on your concerns though.

Sandra's birdfeeder sounds a great success Gill. I would love to have seen the Squirrel sliding down the greasy pole LOL . I bet it will soon be very busy with lots of little visitors. Frank,I wonder if the little Hog will be back again tonight? Maybe now you have made a shelter and given it food it will just know the best garden to be in :-D :-D

I love the sound of OH's present Mel.It is going to be so useful in your garden.I am guessing it must weigh a bit with it having the straps for it to be 'worn'.That would take some pressure off the shoulders and back.

I bet the garden centre was lovely today Ann.Hopefully not too warm in the restaurant if the Woodburners were lit. Which Garden Centre is it? I was thinking if it was not the George that G went to ,might it have been one just a bit further up the road called The Bull or Old Bull? Hannah wants me to book lunch at the Sondes Arms in Rockingham for the 2nd Dec when they come for the weekend. I looked it up just now and it has good reviews for its Sunday Carvery so I must get that sorted tomorrow.

I must remember too I have my hair appointment on Thursday and then on Friday I have this cyst removed on my finger.I seem all over the place with days and dates :-S

Almost pitch dark here now and still blooming cold out there.

Oh Frank, what a dilemma as you say and what a nasty man stealing from charity! You will have to mention it to someone as you say and see if he can be caught! I wonder how long he's been up to these tricks? You don't think his mother knows do you? I would have bought one of your poppies. :-D :-D

That was good of you to help your neighbour's daughter Gill. It sounded a big job moving the stuff around as well. I wish I had neighbours like you! You are right to not want Sandra upset by anyone and I think it's lovely how she is enjoying seeing the birds in the garden on the feeders. :-) I remember seeing Mel's feeders just outside the window like my friend with the big cats has and both had birds coming to and fro all the time.

Yes, I did send a pic of the restaurant Mel. The journey there today was awful because we set off at 8.15am and were queuing at all the road junctions with the workers. Also every school had parents dropping children off and their cars were all up the streets and over the pavements. We decided that most of the rush hour cars on the road are children being taken to school! The parents don't just drop them off either, they park up and walk them right into the school grounds. OH says schools get lots of complaints from residents whose drives are blocked by parents, but the parents can be very abusive when tackled about it. We were still early enough to get a space right next to the doors though and the restaurant was almost empty. They do a variety of breakfasts which are always nicely cooked so that was a good start. I don't think they had all their Christmas display in place yet as it didn't seem as good or as big this year. I liked one of the water spinners that was in a post box that I haven't seen elsewhere but didn't get it. Their 'village scene' that they all seem to set up these days was good though with a brilliant ski lift and some things we hadn't seen before. There were some enormous baubles, fit for the Town Hall Square Christmas tree!! Also lots of other good quality ornaments not seen elsewhere. I did get some cards and we decided to have an Advent Calendar this year, so OH picked one with Thornton's chocs in! Now we will have to toss a coin to see who is first and take it in turns! lol. :-).

We had a look at some cameras when I got back as I'm thinking of having one for Christmas. The one I fancy is quite a bit heavier than my pocket one though and I know if I have a heavy cumbersome one it will get left at home and I'll be sticking with my old one!! :-S I think I need to look at some others.

I've been doing a bit more sorting things out in here. Now we don't have plastic carrier bags to use as bin liners, I save the polythene bags that loo rolls come in to use, also the bags from the farm shop. On line plastic bags from purchases get used to take things to the charity shop in. They are all neatly stored in a cardboard box now. Everything that hasn't got a home seems to get dumped in here.......it's like a holding pen, except nothing moves on!! I must keep doing a bit though or I'll be cut off from my bead shelves!

Evening all,

What a dreary day it's been i don't think it's stopped raining all day ,we lit the fire just after lunch and had a lazy afternoon .

Goodness that was quick as Janice was late going down you would have thought it would have been a bit later in the day before they let her home ,i hope she soon has some improvement in the movement of her knee .

Oh that's not good if he was pocketing the coins Frank, i did wonder like Jane if it was because the coins were to big for the slot ,usually they hold the box while you put the money in .

OH's present sounds just the ticket Mel and i bet he will soon be out in the garden testing it out.

I meant to say i have one of those Vax Blades Jane ,i did have a Vax Air Cordless but had trouble with the batteries and as they didn't have any batteries in stock at the time they replaced it with the Blade model .
I had to ring them today as the hose on the head had split so they are sending out a whole new head ,he told me to keep the old head as the brush bar and belt are not covered by the warranty and i would then have a spare brush and belt .
We got a good deal really as the Vax Air had a two year warranty where as the Blade has a six year one .

Ann i bet it was nice at the garden centre with all the Christmasy things, they set the things out so nicely it's hard to resist buying some thing .
I was very tempted when we went last week with Lacey as there were some lovely baubles with the centre pushed in if you know what i mean just like we use to have years ago in fact we have some old ones packed away but i never get them out as they are such thin glass .

I've seen those really big baubles Ann, it makes you wonder what size the tree is for them to fit lol :-D :-D It sounds like you've had a nice day out, pity about all the cars though.

So Janice is home already Jane, that was quick, hope she's not in to much pain now.

How's the squirrel doing Frank, it sounds like you've made him a lovely little home?

I just spoke to Janice. She was sitting in bed waiting for her dinner that Larry was cooking. She said she is starving but will probably look at it but not be able to eat much. Her Knee Manipulation went to plan but when she came out from the General Anaesthetic she was in absolute agony and was screaming the place down. Apparently for what ever reason her Nerve Block did not work!!!!!.So there was a bit of panic stations until they could get the Surgeon up to write her up for some really strong intravenous pain control. Poor girl..nothing ever goes straight forward for her.

Ann maybe you will go back to the Garden Centre again when all the Christmas things are done. It does sound a lovely place.
Every school around here has problems with parents parking too close and blocking everything and just causing mayhem really. Even parking on the no parking zones.
I use the bags from loo rolls too to line the bathroom bins sometimes. It makes sense .We have been so used to having the supermarket plastic bags for so long it takes a while to adjust to just not having them any longer. I alway try and make sure I have bags in the car before I set off shopping.It has taken a while for me to get in the habit but I think I am there now :-D
Late night for James at work .He is still there so we will have to eat and just keep his dinner hot.

Poor Janice, Jane, she must of been in so much pain, hope it wasn't to long before she got the painkillers. It does sound like she's not having much luck, let's hope it improves for her soon.

I never thought of using the toilet roll bag for the bin, what a good idea. I sometimes use the charity bags that come through the door, we have lots of them and I can't fill them all, so it's better than throwing them away. I'm the same as you Jane and leave bags in the car, mind you they're starting to get a bit tatty now so I'll probably have to buy a few at some point.

Oh Janice must have been in agony. She has certainly suffered a lot with her knees. So let's hope she is coming to the end of it now and will be back on her feet for the wedding!

They hadn't lit the woodburners today Jane, but they had put those artificial flickering flames inside instead so it still looked cosy! It's called Gates Garden Centre and is a few miles from Oakham and close to Somerby. I'll ask OH if 'The Bull', rings a bell when he gets in. He did say he thought it was near The George.

I know the baubles you mean Mandy. I think we may still have one or two from years ago. The pushed in bits were a different colour to the outsides on ours. I was rather hoping to see a decoration again that they had last year. It was a pottery 'Twelve Days of Christmas' words about 8 inches high in a matt green colour that you could put on a window sill or mantlepiece. All intertwined with the letters were the partridge in a pear tree, three french hens etc for all the 12 days. It was very striking.........but then it should be for over £100!! :-0 I half thought about making one with wooden letters. The Partridge in the Pear Tree would be ok and the Two Turtle Doves, but by the time it got to making 10 little Lords a Leaping......not such a good idea. :-D

I DO remember your big walls Mel and we both loved your walled garden. Now we are a tad older, we would like a smaller courtyard version with high walls ourselves. Your trees must be a lot bigger and really high if they are above the wall now. I can just see your OH strolling around the 'estate' eyeing up what improvements he can make with his new present. ;-) It's good you have found a new tool he will like and that will make things easier to do.

I wonder if Frank's new 'visitor' has been back tonight?

Gill I use the spare charity bags to line the laundry bins ( 1 colours, 1 whites). I just whip them out to carry the washing to the washer then.

I took a while to remember to take my bags from the boot into the shops with me too. I keep a very thin plastic bag in my handbag now for just the odd thing. They should have stopped all this plastic use years ago shouldn't they. There's too much paper packaging too.........often just to make things look bigger and more expensive! If they did it would save a lot of trips with the recycling lorries. I notice now we have two weekly collections our council have bought a fleet of bigger lorries. That wouldn't have been cheap, but will probably save money in the long run.

Morning all

Sunny here today but not as cold

I have some bags in my handbag to Ann, it also saves carrying them loose around with me. That's a good idea using the charity bags for the washing.

I had a small breakthrough with my family tree last night, not on the people I had all the brick walls with, but the other side of my family, so I'm going to carry on with that today. I was suppose to be helping my neighbour's daughter move her furniture today but she's got her friend helping now. He's a lot stronger than me. I'm pleased in a way as the wardrobe looked far to heavy for me to help OH move, it's also freed up a day, which is why I'm doing a bit of my family tree instead.

I would of loved to have seen your garden Mel, I often think about it and wonder what it looks like. Our back garden looks so different since we took the garage down, I'm so glad we did it, it's made such a difference and is also a lot bigger to. Our front garden is starting to mature now with all the new plants we put in there this year and with not having the large overgrown hedge right along the front that looks bigger to. All in all I'm pleased with them both and can't wait to see all the bulbs next year in the front. The planters we bought are looking good as well now the plants in there are starting to grow more.

Good morning Gill and all,

Another terrible night, last night. Went to bed after vVERA and hadn't dropped off at 12.45 am. So up I got and read until 4.00 am. Laid awake again until 5.30. then slept until 8.30. Now all showered and dressed.

The TWO POUND COINS fit into the slots of the containers, in fact I never TOUCHED ANY COINS. The tins were on the customers side of the table, and they could put the coins in themselves. If it was a small child I would hold the tin down for them to put their money in. I do hope I was wrong, as to steal from a great cause like that is below contempt.

I fed the hog again last night, but haven't been out the front yet to check if he visited.

All the Garden Centres are all gearing up for Christmas, as well as the shops. Only on Ros's say so. !! as I haven't been to any this year, and I don't think I will.

Barry rang last night. He should be here around midday to cut the lawns, for the last time this year, I HOPE.
;-) ;-)

Have you heard from Janice this morning Jane.?? The poor woman, going through all that pain. I think sending her home was a little premature. I do hope she has a speedy recovery. xxx

I rang my SIL last night, to see if there was any news on my sister. I seems she is sleeping a great deal, and has had a little to eat. She is having PHYSIO while in bed, trying to get movement back into her arms. With all these STROKES she is in a very poorly way.She is stable, that's the main thing.

Very cold night last night. The roofs opposite are covered in frost. So I hope the lawns will be able to be cut without damage.

I have RIB EYES out for tonight. The chicken casserole went down a treat last night. The remains, I might blitz up and make a chicken and vegetable soup, which we can have at lunchtime, otherwise it will go down the toilet and be wasted.

I hope you all have a nice safe day, whatever you are doing. xxxx

Morning you lot,

I did'nt get back on the thread last night as I was sorting out and wrapping some presents.

Its another lovely sunny day this morning and not so cold this mroning as there was'nt any frost. Just a few fluffy white clouds in the sky again but the sunshine is showing up the dust!! as always...........

I have so much craft stuff around me I think its time I had a good clear up and put some of it away,. The thing is whenever I do that I can't find anything I want at the time I want it. I am so forgetfull lately. I looked in Lidl for something I saw I should have bought for oh for Christmas and they did'nt have the thing I wanted so I bought something I should have bought last time too. I just could'nt for the life of me remember what I had bought and wrapped straight away, to keep nosey eyes off, so I pulled the end of the paper off and low and behold it was the thing I was looking for yesterday that they did'nt have!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really think I am going senile now. :-0

I got some nice glitter too in the pound shop so now I have a nice selection of that in different colours to the usual red, blue gold and silver.

Had an email from cousin Hilary and she is in an assisted center so shan't write so often. It sounds like she is still in a lot of pain, poor thing.

Did some more wings for the angels last night so I just have to stick them together today and then attach them to the angels so they will be nearly finished now.

Gill does Sandra like the Harry Potter films? has she been watching them again lately?

Fancy them not giving Janice the right amount of pain killer. Poor girl must have really been in so much pain. I hope it all goes off better this tiem for her and heals quicker than the last one did.

Must go and feed my wild birds as the feeders are empty and I turned the bird bath out lat night incase it froze.

Barry is here cutting the lawns. The mower keeps cutting out, so I will have to check the wiring, and hope it's just a loose wire, and not the mower that needs replacing.

Hog called last night as the bowl was almost empty. Will have to make sure I keep it toped up each night.

Ros has done a basket of ironing and pressed FIVE new pairs of trousers she bought me and altered the leg length by a couple of inches. She is about knackered now. I tell her to do some ironing and leave some for tomorrow or another day, but she won't listen.

Beautiful sunny day here, even though it's very cold.

Its been raining here for a while but I think its stopped now.

No Mel, Harry Potter isn't the type of film Sandra likes.

How is your mower now Frank, did Barry managed to cut your lawns. When OH cut ours the other week, it was a bit to damp, so it didn't cut very well, he hasn't cut them since then. It sounds like the little hog has landed on his feet at yours, with his nice new home and lots of food. I'm not surprised Ros is knackered now after all that work.

After seeing all the birds yesterday, we haven't seen any today......very strange. Maybe they'll be back again tomorrow.

I'm getting on well with my family tree, but keep finding other people so end up going a bit off track. I've gone back to the sibling's I was on now so I can finish that line, then start with their spouses and children.

Gill I have pm'd you.

Afternoon All
We had the first real frost this morning .It was all so white and pretty. The Bird bath was frozen and James had to scrape the windscreen. Thomas was wanting out at 5am but when I opened the back for him he just sat there and then came back in .It must have been too cold for his fancy. He stayed in then until almost mid morning!!!. Thats not happened before.

I hope Barry managed to get the lawns done without the mower packing up Frank.I expect ours will have another cut. But it hasn't grown much .How long has your Sister been in hopsital now Frank? Have they said whether she will be able to go back to living on her own? Looks like you have a permanent resident now :-D.It will need a good feeding up to get its weight up before hibernation. I remember last year an appeal went out from some animal shelter for people to take some hedgehogs as they had had so many handed it.

Mel what happened with Janice was that she had an injection in her back which was meant to block nerve pain but for what ever reason it just didnt work . She said the pain was far far worse than giving birth and had never felt anything like it. I will give her a ring later and see how she has been today. I know tomorrow she has to go for Physio and she is dreading it. I am just keeping everything crossed that this knee will be ok in the end. She is still too young to have had 2 knee replacements and both gone pear shaped :-( She is a tough and determined person and I know she will do everything she it told to do even if it nearly kills her.I think she said she is taking 28 tabs a day !!

I went to Sainsbury today as Fitz had said there was 25% of 6 or more bottles of wine.
The offer ended yesterday :-| :-| :-| So that was a bit of a wasted journey. Then as I was coming home just along Barton Rd (few hundred yards from Franks old house) someone must have been knocked down by a car.Some man was trying to keep traffic moving and there was someone on the ground on the pavement being cared for beside a car with a bashed in bonnet :-S :-S. So it must bave been quite bad :-(

Beef Stroganoff for us tonight. I just hope James is in earlier from work than last night.It was getting on for 10 and his dinner had almost dried up :-S

I dont think we will get any Trick or Treaters tonight. We never do. But I have some mini bags of sweeties in the cupboard just in case :-D.. Black Jacks,Fruit Salads,and a couple more of those old fashioned ones :-D. I will have the Black Jacks :-D :-D

Save a Black Jack for me please Jane?

Still raining here but it is not qite so cold.

Evening all,

We had a sharp frost this morning the car windscreen was very white when we got up but it turned into a lovely sunny day ,i went to Norwich again with DIL and did a bit more Christmas shopping, i wanted to get son some clothes for his birthday we went into Slaters and the blooming lift had gone wrong so we had to go up abut five lots of stairs ,oh my poor legs by the time we got to the top my legs were all wobbly ,we were home just after lunch just those few hours is quite enough for me now .
I bought Lewis a bear from the Bear Factory as they had an offer on ,he's a Hot Wheels Bear in blue ,we bought all the others their bears and Lewis didn't have one so he'll be wrapped up for christmas .

Oh Jane poor Janice she must have been in agony ,i think she's very brave to go through with this second knee replacement after all the trouble she had with the first one .
I just hope my poor BIL's op tomorrow goes ok ,as it's a teaching hospital BIL said the operation is going to be filmed as the surgeon hasn't done an operation like this before ,he doesn't even know what he's going to do until he opens up the knee.

So your little Hog is back again Frank ,you had a hog box didn't you ? is he going in there ?
Mel when they are little like that is there any thing extra you can feed them to get them fattened up ready to Hibernate ?