General Chat

Afternoon all,

<3 <3 Happy Birthday Anne <3 <3
Hope you've had some lovely presents and enjoy your meal later today ,it's nice you can take Ruby with you so she doesn't miss out on your celebrations .

Frank that was a bit rude of Ros's friend to tut like that when she has a free lift ,i don't blame Ros for telling her she could always drive herself there if she wasn't happy .
So you'll two cakes for your birthday ,what a shame they didn't sort out who was sorting out a cake for your birthday .
We haven't had any Carol singers round here for years ,we haven't seen the Round Tables Santa on his sleigh this year yet ,they went round to sons road last week and the children went out in their dressing gowns to see him :-D

We have lovely blue sky here and i don't think it's quite as cold as yesterday .

Wish we had blue sky here. Its been raining nearly all day.

Nice when the children can see Santa ariound the streets. They do that in Bideford.

Evening All,

Just the occasional bit of drizzle here but mostly dry and a bit warmer.

:-D HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY ANNE :-D It was nice to be able to take Ruby with you for your meal. I hope you have enjoyed yourself and have had some nice gifts and cards. I must remember to put GR after my name on cards in future to help you know who is who!

My first boyfriend used to dress up as Santa every year from age 18 in the 60s and ride around the villages in his dad's bright red Toyota pick up truck and collect for charity. I saw in a local newsletter last year that he got an award from the Parish Council in recognition for all the years he had been doing it, so he must still be doing it in his 70s!! I bet Sandra was so pleased to see her Santa. :-D

I've just caught up with that awful fire at Chester Zoo. I didn't know they had built that huge tropical enclosure. The birds would probably have flown as someone said and would perish in this cold or be attacked by other birds. I hope the builders went early today Gill so there wasn't noise for long. It's good your other plants weren't damaged with the wind.

There was lamb on again at the carvery today and it was melt in the mouth so we really enjoyed it. Several of the staff, including the manageress and the chef, came up to our table at different times to see if we will be there next Sunday as they wanted to wish us merry christmas now if we weren't. They are such a nice friendly bunch, the waitresses start getting our tea and iced water ready as soon as they see our car now.

Frank, maybe Jan wants to learn how you do your gammon! How lucky are you to be getting 2 birthday cakes! Does that mean you will be 160? It does seem bad planning and lack of communication if JO knew that Lewis gets one for you. Maybe you could freeze one or some of each? When I used to bake cakes years ago (many years ago! lol) I often made a few and then sliced them into quarters to freeze and have another time.

How lovely to be able to take Ruby with you Anne. Hope you have a lovely meal with your family <3

So it's two cakes then Frank, you'll be spoilt for choice. How cheeky of Ros's friend tutting like that, good on Ros for sticking up for herself.

We haven't had any Carol singers here either Mandy, although we have had Santa around the other day which Sandra loved. I took a video and a photo for her on her camera.

We've got your rain now Mel, it's chucking it down out there.

The new neighbours turned up before they are taking photo's of the progress of the build, probably to show their children. Apparently they have three and they all live in Australia. Her daughter is over on Thursday so will be taking a look at her mum and dad's new place. She's going to have a shock as it's more like a building site at the moment.

OH was on his way out when they turned up so he said we've got something for you and came back in to get their Christmas card I'd written out the other day. When he gave it to them, they had one for us, plus a big tin of Belgium chocolate biscuits. I felt a bit bad as we hadn't got them a present but they said the biscuits were for all the noise and mess we've had to put up with. Wasn't that nice of them. I did get her name wrong as OH said her name was LInda but it's Lynn. She was okay about it though. They do seem like a really nice couple which I'm pleased about as the last thing we need is another Mr and Mrs Grumpy like Mr Grumpy on the other side of us.

Just noticed your post Ann.

How lovely for your first boyfriend to have been given an award for all his hard work. He must love doing it if he's still supporting charities in his 70's.

Wasn't that nice of the staff to want to wish you Merry Christmas in case you're not going next Sunday and to have your drinks ready for when you arrive, they must all think a lot of your both.

I haven't seen the news yet today so have just put it on for an update on Chester Zoo. It was me who said the birds wouldn't survive our cold weather. It was the tropical area that burnt, which as you can imagine, is very hot inside. They have such beautiful tropical birds, it would be a shame if they lost them all. I hope the other animals at the Zoo weren't to traumatised as it must of been very frightening for them.

HELLO !!!!!!!!. Home at last after the most wonderful day yesterday. My word are we tired or what!.
I have just sent an email of a few pics.

Before I forget HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNE <3 <3 <3. I hope you have had a lovely day today...... Have not been home long and so have not looked at any posts.

It was a magical wedding <3.. The only hiccup was that the Cab meant for me and the Bridesmaids didn t turn up. But the one for Hannah ahd Chris did. So we all ended up in that one. When we go to the Town Hall us girls got out and sent Hannah and Dad around the block so they 'arrived' on their own :-D.
The weather was dry but cold . The rain just started as we were all having the photos taken outside the Pub . It was hilarious ,as we kept all having to go out for the different group photos.In the end the photographer decided to try and get the whole of the wedding party pic taken inside. Chris did a great job with his speech but was so nervous . He got a huge round of applause :-D.
The first dance was at 7 and then it was dancing for all. I spent so long dancing (not by choice ) but dragged up by various men .I can hardly walk now :-S.Lots of great 80's music to dance to :-D.... I was even given a Jager Bomb(not right spelling) pronounced yager, a drink I know no nothing about but have heard of them. I had to knock it back in one go !!!.I have no idea who bought it for me though :-S The food was brilliant the speeches so good ,even Hannah did one. (made Gareth cry.(again)..) . He had a little weep during the wedding ceremony too. .
The Registrar lady was good ,but she made a bit of a mistake wit hGareths name. When she asked him if he would take Hannah as his wife she called him Gareth James Jones !!!. He replied yes I do but Gareth James Owen :-D :-D. She just had the Welsh name Jones in her head. Everyone laughed and poor lady was mortified she had made a mistake.But it was fine . Got the name right in the end :-D :-D
I will no doubt send more pics.. Hannah did ask me to thank everyone for their lovely cards and a very special thanks to you MEL for your beautiful one you made which she says is VERY SPECIAL <3 <3

So that is the lowdown on the big day :-D :-D

Love the wedding photo's Jane.

It sounds like you had a great time, apart from a few hic ups here and there.

Fancy the registrar getting Gareth's surname wrong, the poor woman, at least everyone saw the funny side to it. I'm pleased Chris's speech went well, how nice to get a huge round of applause.

You were brave having a Jager Bomb, I believe they're very strong lol. ;-)

I bet you'll be glad of an early night tonight.

I'm glad it all went well Jane and it sounds like it was good fun!. I got just 1 pic that was of Hannah and Chris. Hannah looked lovely in her dress and I like her colours in her bouquet. Chris didn't look as relaxed though, but no doubt relaxed after the speech and it's good the speech went well. I don't know much about these things but I think they put energy drinks in Jager Bombs sometimes! If so maybe that gave you the stamina for all that dancing! :-D

That was a nice gift from your new neighbours Gill. I expect they appreciate you keeping an eye on their plants too. It seem as if you will get on well with them.

I put the new lights on the icicle tree this afternoon and it looks better as there are now more lights than before. OH surprised me as he said he wondered himself whether putting the big tree up was worth the effort involved !!! :-0 :-0 He might well come round to my idea of us having another small tree on the other sideboard, so we have 2 little lit up trees instead. :-) Time will tell.

Off to watch a bit of Kirstie we recorded now.

Nice pics Jane and I am pleased everything went off ok apart from the Jones bit. Silly woman that was'nt the bit to get wrong and I am glad Gareth corrected her.

You all look so lovely in the pics you sent. Did you notice I put some of your lace on my card to them?

Was the garter ok?

Ann I forwarded the pics Jane sent to me.

Not been home long, after the meal which was lovely, Abbie, Becky Abbie's boyfriend, Connor were all there.
We then went round to David & Caroline's, their daughter Holly who is Richard's god daughter is 18 in two days time so they had a combined Birthday and Christmas party. Ruby was in her element she hadn't seen that many friends in one place before she is now tired out.

Lovely photos Jane and pleased that Chris's speech went down well and the wedding too.

I'm pleased you had a very good day Anne. How nice for Ruby to have all those friends together at once too. It sounds like you had a great day all of you.

Thanks Mel. Would you believe it the rest of them have now come through on Jane's email. I don't know how that happens!

I bet Ruby couldn't get enough fuss from everyone Anne. How nice that there was quite a gathering to celebrate your birthday!

I've just had to go and switch the lights off on the door wreath. It was set on a timer from when you switched it on last year and switched itself on and off. I don't know why it isn't doing it this year!

It sounds like you've had a great time Anne and Ruby to. I can imagine everyone making a fuss of her. I bet you'll both sleep well tonight.

Do you think it might be a loose wire stopping the timer working on your wreath Ann? It might be worth taking a look. I noticed our neighbour across the road has a light up wreath on her front door, they're very bright aren't they? It's looking quite Christmasy in our street.

Off to bed now, see you all tomorrow

Morning all,

Guess what? we have a bit of sunshine this morning And blue sky hip hip hooray at last a brighter day. It makes you feel miserable when every day is dull and dreary.

More clearing up on the cards for today. When I go back to my craft work I shan't know where anything is and I hav'nt written it down.

I may go to Bude today to the garden center as I want another pair of Bonmarch (sp) jeans and oh said he will buy them for me. Its a bit of a trip though but I don't have to go right into Bude.

Good morning Mel and all.

So pleased everything went to plan Jane. So Hannah isn't MRS. JONES. What a relief that must be. !! How would that have worked if Gareth haven't noticed. ??

So Anne had a lovely 80th Birthday Party. Hoe nice was that xxx. and Ruby getting all that attention, I bet she was over the moon.

What a disaster our BEEF was yesterday. When Ros was in Morrison's last week, she complained to the butcher about those Roasting joints, that we ended up giving to Martine's dogs. He said sorry and gave her a piece of beef as a peace offering saying " THIS WILL MELT IN YOUR MOUTH" YEAH, and Pigs might FLY. I cooked it Medium Rare, thinking I don't want tp over cook it. We couldn't even cut the Bl@@dy stuff. So ended up with roasted pots and snips. Boiled Veg and Yorkshire pudding. Thee meat is in a bag, ready to go back to Morrison's. I told Ros. Don't buy anymore meat from there.

Cold, bright sunny day here, I had another bad night last night, so feel a bit shattered this morning.

Washing Machine just finished, so will get that emptied and put on the dryer.

Ros and Carolyn have gone to Rushden Lakes this morning to M & S so she can get some new bra's. The ones she has now are too BIG. Sh has lost quite a bit of weight recently.

See you all later. xxx

Afternoon All,

Sunny here too and very welcome after the dreary days as you say. OH was over at Rutland this morning and luckily got the last space in the council car park! He was expecting problems with it being so near Christmas. His job this afternoon is to write his Christmas cards he always seems to leave it till the last minute. :-S

Mel, I need to clear up in here as I have craft stuff everywhere. I must check and open some things that have come from Amazon to see if I sent for a thread zapper I wanted. It is like a pen that heats up to melt the plastic beading thread so it forms a melted blob at the end to stop it pulling through your beads when you thread through the ends to finish off.

My sister is back in hospital again and says her other leg is a mess as well now. They have been trying for ages to clear up the infection she has. I hope she won't be in there for Christmas.

Thanks for your card and little parcel Ann and thanks for your card Mandy.

Ann I have pm'd you.

Afternoon all,

Thank you Ann for the little parcel and your card i have pm'd you
Your poor sister with her leg infections ,i hope they are able to sort her out and she can enjoy Christmas at home .

Jane thank you the photo's are lovely you all look so happy although i thought Chris looked a little on nervous walking Hannah up the aisle, i love the wedding cake i bet it went down well
Hope your recovering now after all the excitement .

Anne it sounds as if you had a lovely day out yesterday i bet Ruby is still tired out after meeting lots of people

Another lovely sunny day and no frost either ,we have nipped to the naughty chocolate shop this aftternoon and also went into The works

Your not having much luck with the Beef Frank ,i bought a couple of big beef joints from Tesco's this morning as they have it half price at the moment

Hi All,

I have been as SICK AS A PIG and visiting my WHITE FRIEND most of the day. I don't know where that came from but it can BU@@ER OFF BACK. ;-) ;-) ;-)

Ros has just got back in time for her Drs. Appointment at 4.00 pm. Neither CAROLYN OR ROS THOUGHT (SORRY) much of Rushden Lakes, M & S have hardly any BRA'S and son't stock her make anymore, so not a happy bunny.

Because the meat went back to Morrison's, (that's another story) I got a Sirloin steak out and sliced it. Put it in a dish with onions and gravy, and potatoe\s in th oven, with a rice pudding for madam. I have done Leeks, Carrots, Swede, and Purple Brussels for Veg. I thought I would do the Leeks in a Cheese sauce, so put them own to boil and FORGOT about them. they boild dry, and burnt the saucepan and lid. They are in the BIN. So not a great day for me. I hope you all had a better one.

Not sure if I will eat tonight. See you later.