General Chat

Poor old you Jane, not feeling great and knocking over a bottle of N. V. R. Look on line for a FRENCH POLISHER in your area , I am sure there will be one or more. I hope this cold soon clears for you, as it does bring you down.

I have "BIGGLES" lying by my feet. His M & D have gone out for the afternoon and didn't want to leave him on his own. I don't know he's here. ;-) ;-) ;-)

You are well on your way with your craft fair things Mel. I hope you sell lots, it will help with the cost of materials.

It's a real HORRIBLE afternoon here. Rain and as black as your hat. I am pleased the service was at the CREM and not an open grave. I will always remember my DADS AND ROS'S Mums. it was in driving SNOW. Which looked wonderful, with the vicars walking along in front of the cars, and their gowns flapping in the wind.

Ros has just come in.They didn't go to the wake, but went back to Val's for a COT.

I missed the CIRCUS this afternoon with the cars. lol lol. Will catch it again in the morning no doubt.

Have just put the chicken on to roast, I've part boiled the spuds, and the Veg is all ready to go on later.

Ros is now going to decorate the mantle piece, and window sill. The I think she will be finished.

Thanks for my card Gill it arrived this morning, together with card from Kim in Australia. I think we have sent her one, well I hope so. ;-) ;-)

Frank.I will be taking the table to John Reed and Sons in Regent St. I bet they were here when you lived here. That is tomorrows job!.
Sent a pic .
So Biggles is with his Uncle Frank :-) It must be like his second home with you:-)
I have never been to a funeral where it has been a burial. You said about the flapping gowns!!!. When we had Dad's ashes to bury it was just horrendous weather . Thick sea mist and windy too. The Curchyard right on top of the cliffs. We could hardly see what we were doing .The Vicars robes were almost blowing over his head. We were all dressed in rain gear. Even though it was a sombre affair ...it could have been a bit like a sitcom :-)

I got Kim's card too today. I have hers and Shirls ready to post tomorrow. Has anyone heard from Shirl lately ?
It is totally black outside now :-S :-S :-S and just 4.30 !

O its lovely you have Biggles for company on this dreary old day Frank.

Thats a nasty spill Jane but you could have put a big doilie over it as its in the middle of the table!!!!! What a nuisance but I am sure they could do it before Christmas.

Evening All,

What a wintery day, so dull and dark and then raining too.

Good to see you up and about Jane, but that is sure powerful nail varnish remover to strip the varnish off the table like that! :-0 You will have to put it on a tray on the table next time. It's usually the varnish itself that I knock over and that makes a horrid mess to try and remove. I expect they will strip the whole table top off to varnish it. Hopefully it hasn't removed any of the wood colour as well.

I was going to queue for an appointment at our surgery this morning as it's useless phoning, but when OH woke me at 7.15am I was so shattered, and so was he, that I decided to do it tomorrow morning. We didn't get up till 11.00am so apart from printing stuff for him and making a few phone calls and cleaning the cooker hob and changing the bed I haven't really done anything.

Frank, what does BIGGLES look like. I have this picture in my head that he is a little Jack Russell. He is so used to you now it is like his second home isn't it. :-)

I was really wishing today that my knees were better than they are. I have said to OH a few times that they should use more volunteers and for more tasks in hospitals and now they are doing it! Even to do a couple of hours a month or a morning would help. :-)

Mel, it sounds like you have everything pretty well organised for the Fayre now. The beading ladies all struggle with what prices to charge. A few shillings is a silly price though when you consider the hours things take to make. One friend says she charges £1.50 for the simplest, cheapest of her earrings. If things are too cheap, people can think they are too cheap for gifts for others as well. Your little village sounds good.

I expect the kitchen will be the next noisiest job Gill with the fitting of the units and worktops. I Iike the bi fold doors too, but the ones on the new bungalow here fold with the concertina bit of the doors sticking into the room as you slide them. I said to OH that it would mean you couldn't put any furniture close up to them as they would catch it when you fold them. It would be nice to let al that fresh air in on a hot day though. I know what you mean about the cleaning Jane! I always think of that when you see the barn conversions or houses where some windows are two storeys high!! lol.

The bungalow diagonally opposite where the lady who went into a home lived is on the market again, so it looks like the sale fell through. It's been up for sale for about a year now.

I popped up the village to the little supermarket this evening and struggled to park. A building next to it at the back that was empty for years has opened as a boxing gym and also round the back the council have turned a school, also empty for ages, into an adult learning centre, so everyone is using the supermarket car park!!

I started watching Mrs Wilson last night and really enjoyed it.

I'd like bi-fold doors to but don't have a wall long enough for them. I think you can have them opening outwards Ann as like you said you can't put furniture near them if they open into the property.

The workmen have taken the outside wall out from the kitchen so that's all open to the rain now. I should imagine the steel will go in next as they have the roof all propped up at the moment.

I saw the pic of the damage on your table Jane, I hope it can be sorted for you. Thanks for letting me know the card arrived, I hope it wasn't wet with all the rain. Our post today was really damp, as it's been pouring with heavy rain all day. Sorry to hear you're still not feeling very well, hope it's gone in time for the wedding.

Pleased to see you're birthday card has arrived to Frank. I bet you've loved having Biggles around again, he sounds a lovely dog and good company for you.

Almost ready for the craft fayre then Mel, when is it? Your Christmas village sounds nice. Yes, plenty of lights, you can't beat them at Christmas time.

I've done really well on my family tree today and added lots more people, so I'm getting there. I think it's going to take a few days to finish though.

Meant to say, "Dancing on Ice" is back on again in January for anyone who's interested. Sandra and I are looking forward to it. :-)

Morning all

Another rainy day here today it's so dark I've got the lights on again.

Just waiting for the man to turn up to fix my washing machine and dryer, both of them are playing up, thankfully I bought an extra guarantee with them which I have another year on so it won't cost us anything. They said they'd be here between 8.35am and 12.35pm so I've had to get up early.

The builders are back next door putting in the pad stones for the steel which is arriving today or tomorrow and the plumber's there doing the first fix, so it's coming along nicely. I think the brickie is bricking up the doorway between the living room and kitchen now the outside wall of the kitchen has been taken down. So it's all go next door today. OH has just asked them to let us know when they are cutting through the side wall for the new window so we can block the air vents to prevent the dust coming inside our bungalow. I don't think Sandra would be to happy having a pile of dust all over her bed.

I'm hoping to have another good day on my family tree today and with a bit of luck it'll be finished. I did well yesterday so I'm hoping I'll do as well today. I can't go out with the workman coming for the appliances so I might as well do something productive while I'm waiting for him.

What is everyone else up to? I hope you are feeling a bit better today Jane <3

Morning Gill and all,

Dark and dreary and wet here today and its all go. Its bin day, library day and Fayre day and I still have things to get ready for this afternoon. Wish me luck for today. Anne emailed me yesterday to say she has so much stuff for her stall that she booked me a table on my own. I wanted to know if I was next to her as I still feel a bit funny having a stall after all this time. Lost my confidance. I will get htere nice and early so hopefully we can chose the stalls we have and I can get next to Anne.

Good luck with the family tree today Gill. I heard from the lady in Melbourne this mroning and she was delighted with the pics I sent of her gt gt gt grandads sister and her daughter.

Maybe back later if I have time but if not it will be after the Fayre.

Morning all,

Hope the you sell lots today Mel and can get next to Anne ,we're off out to lunch with son and DIL so better get a shift on .
Dreary old day but at least it's dry .

Good luck Mel, hope you sell everything and get a stall next to Anne. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Just finished copying everything over to my tree, I think there were around 400 people in total, but lost count so there maybe more. I've got access to an Ancestry tree so I'm going to take a look at that to fill in a few gaps I've got.

Pleased to hear it's dry by you Mandy enjoy your lunch out, hope the rain stays away.

The builders are getting on well next door and have started putting up a bit of scaffolding so they can complete the wall of the extension, they've also took out the window in the back bedroom and bricked that up. We're going to block our air vents later as I don't think it'll be long before they cut the wall down the side for the new bedroom window. It's going to be very dark in that room now with no windows in it. I hope the extension is finished by Christmas.

Going to get a cuppa then get back to my family tree, I'm hoping to have it all finished today. Still waiting for the man to turn up to fix the washing machine and dryer, the four hour slot is up in an hour, so I hope they haven't forgotten us, or are running late.

Good morning/Afternoon to you all,

This weather seems to be nationwide, very dreary here also.

Biggles is a "SNOUTCER " (sp) he is black and curly. Such a treat to be with, we really don't know we have him, he is such a lovely boy. His M & D went to BLENIUM Palace to see the gardens all lit up. She said it was a sight to see.

Ros is at Stitchery do today, and has taken plates full of Sausage Rolls, Mince pies, and Pigs in Blankets. I am sure not all the girls will take as much as this. She left me with half a dozen Sausage rolls which I have just had with a COC.

Yes, I hope you do well with your Fayre today Mel, and you have your other things to do as well, you are going to be busy.

Jane I don't recall the name of that shop, but you must remember I haven't lived there for over FORTY YEARS. I hope they can repair thee damage done. You will be more careful next time lol lol

So the builders are getting on well Gill. It won't be much longer to have the noise, they will be busy inside with the plastering etc. which will be much quieter.

Anne it's such a drag, tying to get appointments at the Drs. I know here if we want to see one particular Dr. you could wait up to two weeks. They always see to be on HOLIDAY !!!!

I had heard from ANCESTRY who have found a match for me. It's thought to be a 2nd or 3rd Cousin who is related to my Uncle Alfred, who lived in EAST HAM. I have replied so will wait to see where this goes.EXCITING !!!

Oh how lovely to have found a 2nd or 3rd cousin Frank, it's very exciting for you.

I can't believe how fast the extension wall is going up, it's well above our 7ft fence now and looks like it might be finished today if it doesn't rain, then there's just the roof to put up and the bi-fold doors, they are quite quiet today Frank, no loud radio. I offered them a cup of tea but they all said no, mind you their boss is a right tyrant and would probably shout at them if they'd of said yes. Ros has been working hard making all those goodies to take to Stitchery Do, at least she left you half a dozen sausages rolls, maybe she'll bring some back later if they don't all get eaten.

My washing machine has just been fixed so I've got the bedding in there. Apparently the circuit board was a bit dusty and the housing had come loose because the screws hadn't been put in tight enough when it was made, so no new parts needed just a bit of a clean. As for the dryer he couldn't find a fault on it so can't explain why it went off the other day, he did say if we have anymore problems with it to give them a ring and they'll come back and take another look. I'm just pleased they didn't have to take any of them away, that's the last thing you need in the middle of winter isn't it?

Afternoon All,

More of the same weather here too! I got in at the doctor's at 8.50am so that was good and was called in 10 minutes ahead of that time, had barely sat down when I was called. I'm now being referred to see a gynaecologist so I hope it will be the one who did my hysterectomy years ago as he was brillliant. I was in the chemist afterwards for ages. They seems to be getting worse there. A chap came in expecting his prescription to be ready for him and it wasn't so he had to wait over a quarter of an hour the same as me and was pacing around.

Those Schnauzers are nice little dogs. When we moved here our next door neighbour had one. It sounds as if Blenheim looked a treat with all the lights.Ros must have been loaded up with all that food for stitchery do! It will be interesting to see what reply you get back from your new found rellies.

Yes I wonder how Mel got on this afternoon. Lets hope there were plenty of people looking for presents.

The builders aren't dragging their heels are they Gill! It will be finished before you know it at this rate. You are doing well with your family tree too.

I hope you had a nice lunch Mandy.........what did you have? :-D

Evening All

Mel I hope you have come home with a full purse tonight :-D. Did you manage ot get a table next to your friend?
How was your lunch today Mandy ? Nice and tasty?

I bet you are so relieved Gill that your machine and the Dryer seems to be fine after its hiccup the other day.

Ann thank you so much for my little Xmas gift. It is sooo pretty and just the right colours for my tree :-D :-D Also for H&Gs card.
Frank,I think it was your card too that came today :-D Thank you. I hope you haven't got indegestion after those 6 Sausage Rolls ;-)

I do hope that Anne rejoins us again very soon :-D

We took the table in this morning to have the top stripped . It is going to cost £150 :-S :-S :-0,and they will bring it back the week after next.Poor old Chris had to carry it up a steep flight of stairs and it weighs a ton. I had visions of him toppling backwards right down the stairs.

Time to sort dinner now. I have made some concoction ,bit like a Dauphinoise Potato dish but there is pulled Pork in it too.I am not sure how well that will go down as it is so rich and I have Southern Fried Chicken Breasts,Sugarsnap Peas,Asparagus and Green Beans.

Early night again for me I think. This cold has left me feeling a bit drained.

That's not a bad price Jane to have your table top done, poor Chris having to carry it up those stairs. At least you'll have it back in time for Christmas.
Yes, it would be lovely to see Anne back here again, I've missed her posts. Did everyone like your meal? It sounded really nice.

That was good getting into the doctors earlier than your appointment, you don't see that very often Ann. Pity you had to hang around at the chemist though.

Yes, the extension is going up quickly now, the wall is done by the looks of it and the steels were delivered today along with the winch to get it up into place. The only problem is that is now our view out of our kitchen window, a big wall, so I've decided to buy some tall bushy plants in the hope it'll cover most of the view and give us something pretty to look at instead.

I did finally meet the new neighbours and they had a look around our back garden Linda said our garden looks much wider than hers even though they are both the same, I think it might be because there are more plants around the edges of her garden than ours. She was pleased her plants are protected in our garden now and also said how nice our back garden was, Kevin her husband was asking me the names of plants we had, saying how nice they were which was nice. They haven't got a key to get into their property as they gave it to the boss but OH told them that they could probably just walk in as they took the outside wall down, which they didn't even know had been done. I think that's why the extension has gone up quickly, to make the property secure again.

Jane I had my fingers crossed and hoped you hadn't changed your tree colours!! lol ;-) Crikey that was an expensive accident with the nail varnish remover! At least it hasn't ruined the table. Mind you carrying it won't have done Chris's back any good! I hope your cold is getting a bit better now. At least you should be well for the wedding and not be sporting a Rudolph nose on the photos!! Is Hannah getting nervous about the big day?

I had a card from Anne today. I miss hearing about Ruby and her family and where her brother is travelling.

HERE I AM. I had a lovely time and there were more people there that I knew than I thought. We were given a mug of tea or coffee and then a lady came around with one of the drums of celebrations and we were each given the chioce of the one we wanted which I thought was a nice idea.

The first things I sold were two mice inthe walnut shells and they went to the same person. He bought one and came back later for another one.

Right at the end a lady who had a stall came over and there was a young lad and she snatched one of the wands I had made and then said sorry to the lad and asked if that was the one he wanted then picked up another one and said she would have the two. I asked the lad if she had taken the one he wanted and he said no but he had'nt got enough money for it. There were two left and he said the one with the string handle. This one was'nt as ornate as the ones I had sold so I asked him how much he had. He said £4 so I let him have it for that. I took £46 so I was happy with that.

Went down into the village and bought us F & C for dinner which were delish as they cook it to order. I did have to wait in the rain for it though as they had one fryer down so waited about 20 mins. The perfect end to a good day. Tired now.

O I meant to ask how the cake turned out Mandy and can we have a picture please?

I saw a Unicorn cake in Morrisons and it had the ears on top and icing flowers around the ears and a fondant horn on top and on the front it had closed eyes with long eyelashes so I know what I am expecting to see.

So tomorrows the big day and how old is Katie? <3

It sounds as if you had a great day Mel......no need for that confidence wobble! Now you have some money to buy more craft stuff with and people obviously liked the things you made. It sounds like you would have sold more of the little mice if they hadn't gone straightaway. Did you get tables next to each other and did Anne sell her things too? What kinds of things did she have on her stall?

Oh yes, I wonder how Mandy got on with the Unicorn cake! I would have probably got the horn in the wrong place and made a Rhinocerous cake instead. :-S Did she want anything in particular for her birthday? :-D

Gill it sounds like you will get on well with the new neighbours. They are complimenting your garden already so you know it was worth all the hard work you have done on it, especiailly when others like it too.

Well done Mel, it sounds like you had a great day and came home with quite a tidy sum of money. That was kind of you to let the lad have the wand for £4 I bet he was thrilled.

Well, Sandra has finally seen Santa, we didn't hear him coming down the street. Someone rang on the doorbell and we wondered who it was, they collect for charity and it was one of Santa's helpers at the door, so Sandra ran to get her camera and I took a photo and a video for her while she watched him go past the bungalow. He always stops outside our place as there are some children over the road so it's a great chance to get a photo. Sandra is very happy now as we've heard him around the place for a few nights now and he hadn't been down our street, poor Sandra thought he wasn't going to come, so she's as pleased as punch now.....bless her.