General Chat

Sorry to hear you're not well Jane, I hope you feel better soon and have a lovely Christmas with Chris. It's lucky you're not having a house full Christmas Day, it sounds like you're in no fit state to be doing to much at the moment. Thanks for the photo's and video's. I've seen the photo's and will watch the video's later.

The Nordic Gnome looks great Mel. How tall is it, it looks quite big to me? Have you got your Christmas tree and decorations up now?

I'm so tired at the moment, I haven't stopped for days. We bought two 12 foot high Red Robin plants the other day, so they were delivered yesterday. They hide the new extension next door and also block the view down our garden from their new window, so we're pleased we have most of our privacy back now. We also found a water feature with a cascade of small waterfalls that I've been looking for, for years. It was an ex-display one about 5 foot long and 2 foot wide and high which they had a couple of reindeer around. They said we could have £200 off the price with it not being brand new and they think the lights don't work on it, to be honest I didn't even know it had lights on, although someone else at the garden centre said the lights did work, so we'll have to wait and see. So with the £100 as well which I managed to get off the price of the two large Red Robins, it's been quite a few days of bargains.

They said we could have the water feature straight away but with it being in a display I didn't want the children to miss out so said to deliver it after Christmas, we agreed on 10th January as it's our anniversary and we were buying it as a joint anniversary present, plus it'll give us time to sort out a base for it after Christmas. They said it was kind of us to let them deliver when they're less busy and offered us the money that people had thrown in it, I said to give the money to charity as it's what I would of done anyway. I also found another large pot filled with compost which the fella in another garden centre said I could have for £2 as it was in their rubbish area, there was nothing wrong with it apart from not being brand new and was the perfect size for a smaller Red Robin I have that kept getting blown over, so that should stay put now and was another bargain, we used some of the compost that was in it to fill a hole in the garden so one of the 12 foot Red Robins could be moved into that space, which also saved us money.

Then today the builder next door let us have 9 flags and some sand for free so we can make the base for the water feature and he also gave me a ceramic pot for nothing which was just the right size to re-pot a houseplant I have in the living room, I think it was because I kept him in cups of teas for the last few days when he was taking all the rendering off. We also nipped to the shops and managed to get most of the Christmas food including dips and the Chocolate Trifle Sandra likes that had a really good use by date on them.

So all in all we've had three brilliant days. The only down side was it poured with rain the other day so we all got soaked and OH and I now have a cold and sore throats, but it's not to bad so should clear in time for Christmas.

Oh some good ideas there Mel I'll tell DILwhen I see her .

He's called the elf on the shelf ,I think they got him from their next door neighbour ,she'd had enough of him :-D and he's minus his hat LOL
I will see if I can get a photo of him on their tree.

Mel when i was little we use to thread tiny balls of cotton wool on thread and hang them on the Christmas tree so they looked like tiny snow balls.

Oh so they are moving on then Jane ,it looked a lovely relaxing place ,Gareth looked chilled out in his chair .

A quick good evening.

Like Jane I have felt really poorly all day, aching all over and having a really sore throat, I had the flue jab so it's not that but worse than a cold.

That was good seeing the film that Hannah sent I liked the bit where Gareth waved at her, they will have a lot of happy memories of this time and plenty to talk about when they get home.

Mel love the photo of the Nordic Gnome you made it looks quite large.

I feel so sorry for all those travellers trapped at Gatwick airport, all because of someone's irresponsible act, how selfish, I hope they soon catch them and put them in prison over the Christmas holiday

Just off to bed now after dosing my self up.

Morning everyone,

Got up late again and there's so much to do today I have Di coming round and I have to go to em's with her eggs and ring and I have to finish that first. Feed the girls and the wildies and other things too. Still not got everything on the tree but it looks nice. Its missing its icicles at the mo. They are on the table waiting to go on.

I told oh I wanted some more rechargable batteries for Christmas and he said ok and then a day later he came and told me he had ordered the wrong size. I said I wanted AA's as they are the ones I use most in my lights and pc mouse. He said he had ordered the smaller ones then came and asked me for the smaller ones for his telly changer. I use the smaller ones in my keyboard and have a lot of them in solar lights I don't use now. I must take the rest out and recharge them. I had to do that fo his changer.

Morning all

Damp again here today.

OH and I are feeling under the weather so we're staying in where it's warm today. We both have sore throats and colds.

I hope everyone else is starting to feel better now and that everyone is fit and well in time for Christmas.

Sandra is counting the days to Christmas Day and is so excited.

We don't think anymore builders will be around next door now until after Christmas so hopefully it'll be nice and quiet for a while.

I've just had a quick look through all the posts I've missed and noticed the naughty elf Mandy. It sounds like the children are really enjoying the mornings wondering what he's been up to in the night.

So not much more tree decorating to do now then Mel. Fancy OH getting the wrong size batteries, lets hope he has time to get the right size for you before Christmas.

Poor Gareth getting sun burnt Jane, I hope it's starting to feel a bit better for him now. I loved the videos Hannah took and smiled at the tiny pineapple comment she made about the plant she filmed. That Jager Bomb you drank was large, I was expecting something a bit smaller like a shot. You were brave drinking it down in one. How are you feeling today, a little better I hope?

Sandra's still wearing her necklace Ann and has been showing all the family when we visited them this week. They all said how nice it was.

Hope you are feeling a bit better today Anne. It sounds like most of us have some sort of sore throat or cold, there must be a bug going around.

Going to get a cuppa now, then have a soak in a hot bath to see if it makes me feel a bit better. I'm not going anywhere today so will probably catch up with a few recordings later, as we're running our of space on the planner again.

Morning to you all,

I wish you all a "VERRY HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A HEALTHY NEW YEAR" The reason I am doing it today, is that I might not be around tomorrow.

I rang Conrad this morning, to ask if he knew what time we would be home on Saturday evening. I needed to know about getting a Takeaway. DON'T WORRY about anything. He will be taking car of all my needs, and JAN will look after Ros. So it looks like I am going to be well looked after.

At the moment I have 18 birthday cards, so with the families I will have over over 20. That's without todays and tomorrows post.

I have a nice bruise on my right arm, from my fall the other night. Plus I ache all over, I think I might be catching a BUG.

Martine has just called in with a present and card for me, This year will be their first Christmas without Brian's Mother and Uncle George. They are really looking forward to doing what they want, without having to please the old folk.

I have whipped though the posts, and see that most of you are fine, for Gill ,Jane and Anne get better soon, I see G & H are having a lovely Honeymoon. Lets hope it continues, and they enjoy all the activities.

Overcast and windy here. I expect it to rain late. We did have some in the night.

That NAUGHTY ELF is certainly entertaining the children Mandy. What a wonderful idea, and very nice thing for the children to wake up to every morning.

We are in LIMBO today, not knowing what time C & J will get here this afternoon. Later I will get a shower and shave. I have my cloths ready, for what I am wearing tonight.

The cases Are packed and ready to go, whenever that will be. I think it might be Sunday or Monday.

Have a good day, and stay safe. xxxx

Afternoon All

Anne it does sound liek we have had the same horrible lurgy. I hope you are feeling a bit better today. I had a dreadful night of coughing and feel quite exhausted today. I have got a couple of jobs done and am now having a bit of a sit down before Fitz arrives.

Mel I got the wrong batteries too. I thought I needed AAA for my lights but like you it is AA.

Gill,it will be nice now to have no builders next door until after Christmas.YOu have had to put up with a lot of noise over the last few weeks.
I always quite fancy have a water feature in the garden . Not sure Chris would though. It might take a bit of persuading !!

No Frank yet!!!!! Come on Frank. Lets see you. You will be all set for the off now . Don't forget the GAMMON :-D

I will be back later today.I wonder if H&G have had their Surfing Lesson today.

The table is set for lunch now. Chris has stuck me right down the end away from him and Fitz so I wont be breathing germs or coughing all over them.

I was already here Jane, you posted one minute behind me, So Chris isn't taking any chances catching what you have. It's a wonder he hasn't put a MASK on you. !!!!

I have spent a lot of time on the phone to my Energy Supplier trying to sort out why my D/D has gone from £70.00 per month to £269.odd. They are looking into it and will be back in touch. I have also been trying to renew Ros's RAC MEMBERSHIP. What a palaver. Still not managed to do its with Tesco Vouchers. So that's a job for Conrad when he gets her. If he knows how to do it.

We have put a BIG NOTE "DON'T FORGET THE GAMMON" on the conservatory door. Ros has also bought parsley, mint etc to go in the stuffing. for the Turkey. I doubt Jan would think of that.

Ros has cooked a few sausage rolls, that we will nibble on.We don't want to eat to much before our BIG CHINESE TONIGHT. Boy, am I looking forward to see all he family all together tonight.

Ha Frank got in just before you Jane.

Hope you all feel better soon those of you that are under par. I have had a bit of a cold with sneezing and runny eyes but not much else with it. I can cope with that. Not sure if its a cold or just all the dust thats about with the Christmas decs.

Di came this morning so that set me back a bit. I still hav'nt finished off Em's ring but have made her mum a swag for the door as she asked me to save her some holly berries off their tree. Its just a thankyou fr letting me cut the holly which grows on the edge of their field just up the road past Em's.

Its dull and dreary here today with a little rain in the air now and then.

Be back later with pics of the swag and Em's ring for my records.

FORGOT TO SAY ITS THE SHORTEST DAY TODAY.

Enjoy your Birthday get together with all the family tonight Frank. <3

Afternoon to all my dearest friends.

Conrad and Jan called in,they are going to the Hilton Hotel in Northampton., and will meet us at th restaurant later the evening. John and Carolyn will pick us up at 7.45 to take us. The will save C & J having to come back later.

Just A BIG WORD OF WARNING> Conrad has my MacBook booked into a shop for a replacement keyboard to be fitted. So I will not be available on line until the NEW YEAR. once we go to Devon. The shop will arrange to send it back to me when it's ready.

So it leaves me to say. HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

God bless you all, and thanks for your friendship. xxx

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR TOMORROW FRANK

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR :-)

See you when you get back home. Have a great time away.

Evening all,
Just wanted to pop in before your off Frank
Happy Birthday for tomorrow have a lovely evening with all the family .
Hope you both have a good Christmas with family and a safe journey down to Devon

BBL

Afternoon All,

What a poorly lot! I hope those of you with all the sore throats and colds are better soon. I remember one Christmas Day I could hardly taste the Turkey and slept a lot of the day. I didn't sleep till gone 3.00am and was awake again at 6.30am so feel really tired now.

I hope you have a lovely birthday and Christmas Frank and that the gammon turns out ok using a strange oven!!

I had a lovely surprise Thank You card today from Sandra this morning. :-D It was covered in lovely stickers and sparkly bits and she has done it so neatly. OH loved it too and has put it with our Christmas cards. <3 <3 Thank you Sandra and I'm so glad you liked the necklace and are wearing it. <3 <3

The new little cat Cleo at my friends has the sweetest little miaow! She goes outside now and came and sat outside the glass door, miaowing to come in. She can use the catflap around the corner, but prefers personal service. As soon as my friend opened the door, she took one look at us and ran off! There is still some spitting between her and the other 2 cats but less so apparently, but they are sharing, or should I say 'nicking' each other's food!!

OH went to see an old footie pal that used to come with us to matches at places like Scarborough ( I would explore and look at the shops while they were at the match!) He is about my age and lives with his brother now, since a while after his mother went into a home, and uses a walker and doesn't go to any matches now. G said he didn't think he looked well this time and wasn't his usual self. He lives about 3 miles away at the edge of the city and G had noticed the house next door was up for sale. Apparently it had been used as a cannabis factory and is in quite a mess inside.

OH also fetched me a little folding table I saw in Homebase while I was waiting for him at the Hospital. It is 3ft x 2ft, lightweight with a resin top and sturdy and with being adjustable in height will be better for me to use in the lounge for beading etc as the nest of tables one I use is low and makes my back hurt bending over.

While I was out this morning OH was introduced to a new neighbour.........next door have bought a Westie pup!!! That's a dog each side of us now. They have had her since Monday and have let her out in the garden, but we haven't heard her at all so we are hoping that's a good omen!

I'd better sort the papers and magazines to chuck out now as our last recycling collection before Christmas is tomorrow. Gawd knows when they will come again, but OH suggested it will be later than usual.

Sandra's pleased the card arrived safely and you like it Ann. When she makes cards for people I'm not allowed to tell anyone as she likes it to be a surprise.

MERRY XMAS FRANK AND ROS and Have a great 80th Birthday with all your family <3 <3 <3..

BBC 2 now a great film with kids in it.

Goodness we have got a lot of poorly ones ,it must be a nasty bug doing the rounds ,there's a few days to go to Christmas so i hope you all start to feel better soon .

Ann the little little folding table sounds just the ticket for your beading ,there's nothing worse than leaning over a table and getting back ache which we usually do when we do a jigsaw on the dining table .
I like your little snow man .

I went off early this morning to Tesco to get my last bits and pieces i was quite surprised how quiet it seemed with plenty of spaces on the car park and no queues at the till ,i just want to go to Morrison's tomorrow which i can walk to as we want to go to sons tomorrow and Morrisons is very near their house .

The Elf was in the washing machine this morning :-D
Thanks for the link Mel there's some good ideas on there ,i like the one where the Elf is sat on the toilet roll and the whole toilet is wrapped in Christmas Paper :-D

O I had'nt read the posts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Iv'e been so busy.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FRANK AND A HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR TOMORROW <3

HAVE A GREAT TIME AND A SAFE JOURNEY DOWN HERE.

HOPE YOU LIKE YOUR SURPRIZE PRESENT.

I like the little snowman Ann have you just changed it as I thought it was'nt there just now.