General Chat

Mandy I have pm'd you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANK FOR TOMORROW & HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU & ROS

Enjoy your break xxx

Yes I only just changed to the snowman. I thought it was a bit late for autumn leaves now. :-)

So the Naughty Elf has needed a good wash Mandy. I hope he hasn't left bubbles everywhere! I hadn't thought about using the table for jigsaws, but I think it would be ideal as most years I get a new one for Christmas. It would be easy to move it to where the light doesn't shine on the jigsaw too which happens when it is on the dining table. Thank you for mentioning it, I'm quite chuffed with the idea!!

I just have this image in my head of Jane seated at one end of the dining table (she has a long table) in isolation with her bugs and tissues, and Chris and Fitz at the other leaning back as far as they can and trying not to breathe any bugs in, and saying 'pass the hand gel' instead of the condiments!! LOL. :-D Oh dear Jane, you were lucky to have been able to get to the wedding weren't you, what with being unwell before and after it. I hope it clears up soon as it gets very exhausting, especially with the coughing.

I have just realised I need some more freezer bags for some of the cooked Turkey..........there's always something left to get!

Sandra loves your snowman Ann. We were hoping for snow this Christmas but it doesn't look like it's going to happen, just lots of rain. It's gone really mild here today. I think there's a full moon tonight it's very bright out there.

How lovely to have a table to use for your beading and puzzles so you don't have a bad back. I know what you mean about doing puzzles in artificial light, it always seems to shine on the part of the puzzle you're trying to do, this way, like you said, you'll be able to move the table to where you want more easily now.

I said to Sandra before my nose was running to which she replied "You'd better run after it, you'll look funny without it" she can say some funny things sometimes lol :-D :-D

So the Elf is in the washing machine now Mandy? It sounds great fun for the children. I wonder what he'll do on Christmas Day ;-) ;-)

We're watching Celebrity Help the Animals at Christmas on channel 5, it's live and on for 3 hours to raise money for a number of animal charities, at bit like Children in Need.

Yes I liked that one with the loo done up in Christmas wrapping paper too. I also liked the one where he made a bed out of the tissue box with folded tissues for his pillow.

Morning all, Just a quickie to thank you for my Birthday wishes. Gill and Ann sent identical cards, How did you manage that.??

Had a fantastic night last night, ate and drank to much. The door was excellent as were the Company. Some who had never meet, but got on so well.

I AM OF TO WEST HAM TODAY. Conrad is picking me up around 11.30. He has booked a parking space right outside the stadium , so hardly any walking.

Last night Ros had saved £400.00 to pay for the evening. When she went to pay, Conrad had already done it. So h really is treating me for my Birthday.

Must dash, things to do.

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3REAL HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANK <3 <3 <3 <3

HAVE A WONDERFULL TIME TODAY AT THE FOOTBALL AND ENJOY THE GAME AND I HOPE THEY WIN. XXXXX

Morning all,

Not a bad morning some sun here and there and fast passing clouds of grey low ones and white higher ones.

One job for today is to mix my Christmas cake as I hav'nt had time to do it yet. I can cook it tomorrow then and it will be nice for after Christmas which is the time we usually eat it anyway.

Every body is busy I can see...............

What did the elf do today Mandy. We all want to know his antics.

Afternoon All,

<3 <3 :-D HAVE A HAPPY ONE BIRTHDAY BOY!! :-D :-D <3 <3

Well I never, fancy me and Gill getting you the same birthday card! I wonder what the odds are for that happening? It sounds like you are enjoying yourself and the match to look forward to as well. The meal and meet up with the family sounds a great success and how nice of Conrad to foot the bill for the meal. Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and you should be back in time for New Year wishes.

We never used to eat Christmas cake till a few days after Christmas as well Mel. We are the same with Christmas pudding. It seems to be tastier when you aren't so full of other rich food. I remember years ago my first OH would be taking Christmas cake to eat at work for a few weeks!!

I didn't feel well in the night, too hot, shaky, a bit sickly and heart going quite fast. I think it was because I ate in the evening and had some chicken and ham pie that gave me indigestion and it was like pork pie pastry and quite greasy. In case it was going to be a panic attack or one of those heart racing episodes, I had an indigestion tablet and got up and walked around the lounge for 10 minutes. That seems to help calm the breathing and probably uses some of the adrenaline you get when you start to worry a bit. Anyway OH came to find me and after a while we went and watched another episode of Cliveden to see how the uber rich live! I slept propped up after and felt ok this morning. I suppose it might have been a bug.

I hope the poorly ones are all feeling a bit better today.

Nipping out with my camera now .....that's sure to make the sun go in! :-S

OOh Frank will will ready for Kick off :-D I do hope his team win.He has got decent weather too :-D. What a wonderful birthday he is having what with the slap up meal last night and now the footie. How funny he got the same cards from Ann and Gill !!

Not a good night for you last night Ann. Maybe that was down to the pie. It will be a lovely afternoon to get out and about to take some pics. I always look forward to seeing them.

Mel I think every year to say you are late in making your Xmas Cake LOL But then if you don't eat it until later it doesnt matter does it. Chris has the job of icing his cake tomorrow morning.He just did Marzipan on the top .The icing has been softening in the airing cupboard for the last couple of days !!.

I went to Tesco this morning (first time out in 3 days) . I tried my best not to cough too much ,but then everyone else was so I barked along with the rest of them :-D.
It was a bit like a scrum in the isle where all the cough and cold remedies were.Crazy !
They had sold out of quite a lot of things. I wanted Bronchostop mixture but that had all gone. It was busy in the store but not as bad as I had thought it would be. Bad enough though with all the men pushing the trolleys behind wives and girlfriends. Why do men and Trolleys always get in the way ??? They just seem to stop mid isle and not realise people are trying to get past. My little gripe over :-D
I was glad to get home though . I felt quite drained. I did remember to put some things in the food bank collection . I wanted to put something a little different (being Christmas) instead of the usual dried Pasta and tins of beans /soup . So I got some tinned Pink Salmon, Tinned Tuna,mini Xmas Puddings,Tinned Custard,.Chocolate coins and sweet Candy Sticks oh and Fruit Cocktails. I just feel so bad for families who are struggling so much ,and especially this time of year when they have little children. There is all of us with fridge and freezers stuffed :-S.. I know we can't feel bad or guilty but it does make you think 'What if it was us'.
James is out seeing friends today and having a late 'big lunch' so needs nothing tonight. So it is just Pasta and sauce and garlic bread for us two.I really cannot be faffed to do anything else.

I wonder if the footie has kicked off yet for Frank??

My Sister is on the phone

Afternoon all,

<3 Happy Birthday Frank <3

Hope West Ham win today Frank that would be the icing on the cake for you .
What a lovely thing for Conrad to pay for every ones meal ,did you have two birthday cakes ?

So not a good night for you Ann ,i suppose when you feel a bit shaky like that it must panic you a bit in case it's another heart racing episode i'm glad you feeling better this morning and can get out to snap some of your good photo's .

Mel the Elf wrapped his self up in toilet roll today :-D i got son to take a photo of the Elf in the tree so he's emailed it to me i'll send it on .

So you ventured out today Jane ,i noticed there was a lot of people coughing when i went into Morrisons with DIL this morning .
They had a sale on the childrens clothes so i treated the girls to sparkly christmas outfit ,they were so excited and kept saying thank you nanny bless them.

Lovely sun shine here i nearly hung some washing out but as there wasn't that much i didn't bother .

Breaded Cod portions from the fish stall man for us tonight they are nice we've had a them several times now and it's lovely thick cod in them ,we'll have some home made wedges with them .

Love Elf on the BRANCH Mandy :-D :-D.. It is just me with a mucky mind? :-D..Just shown it to Chris and he thought it was brilliant :-D

I had a few tears just now :-(.. I rang my old primary school teacher and good friend of our family . She is in a home and is 99!!!!!. It has been a year since I last spoke to her . She sounded so confused . I said it was Jane and she asked me if I was coming to get her out of there :-(.. It sounded just like my Mum when she was in her home . I said I couldn't do that as I live so far away. She said why are you so far away I just want to go home :-( :-(. All I could say was I couldn't do that right now but just wanted to wish her a Happy Christmas. She thought that was so nice. I won't be ringing again ,as I will find it too upsetting and i don't want to get her confused if she doesn't really know who she is speaking to. It just made me feel so sad .I did ring the home to say I had spoken to Ruth but she was very confused and if they could just remind her that I had called to Wish her a Merry Christmas. Ruth will be 100 in May!

Hello All, I don't normally interrupt all the conversations but I do enjoy seeing what you are all doing so I pop in and read every so often.

I just wanted to wish you all a Happy Christmas, I hope those who are poorly are well enough to enjoy Christmas. and then to say A Happy New year as well. :-) :-)

Ahh that was nice Jane to ring Ruth. It is sad when they ask you if you are taking them home. I had that with my nan when I used to go and see her in the home after my dad died. Sometimes she would tell me that John Frank and Edgar had gone to football. Edgar was her hubby and John her son and brother to my dad who was killed when his ship hit a mine just of the Isle Of Wight on her maiden voyage after being refitted.

Well I have not done a lot today and I don't know where the day has gone. I did have a fiddle in the shed with a moss tree for myself but I hav'nt finished it yet.

Mandy love the elf on the shelf. If you measure his head I will make him a hat. I'd love to do that for the children.

Hope Ann got some good pics today as I am looking forward to seeing them as usual. Funny thing is I had that heart beating in the ears thig the other night too. Not shakey though just felt a bit uncomfortable as I was trying to sleep at the time. I am pleased you were ok this morning though, perhaps you had done a bit too much that day.

Its going to be funny without our Frank again is'nt it?

West Ham lost to Watford 2 nil.

Hi Ann, MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY NEW YEAR to you too! :-) :-)

Well I can't stop yawning, my eyes keep running then that starts the nose off sniffling too!! lol. I didn't do too well with my photos today as the light wasn't very good. The weekends seem to bring out the lycra clad cyclists round here! I came home again after popping in a garden centre on the way back. It was one that has expanded into all kinds of house goods and I thought it may have some freezer bags I wanted and it did. :-) When I got home I par boiled the roast pots and the parsnips for Christmas Day, sprinkled pepper, herbs and some olive oil over them and they are now in the freezer. I also did the bread and onion sauce and that is in the freezer as well. I meant to do them a week or two ago but couldn't see any Maris Piper potatoes then.

It is a bigger ELF than I expected Mandy and does have an interpretable expression........Jane has obviously seen one expression, but I thought he looked as if he'd sat on a pine needle! LOL How nice that Mel has offered to do him a hat for the children. They will be amazed if they see he has got himself a hat!

What a shame Jane. It must be upsetting that Ruth didn't remember you even with you trying to help her memory. She has reached a good age and I hope she is able to enjoy her 100th next May.

I can't do too much anymore, knees won't let me Mel. I think mine happens usually a few months after I get stressed or worry and I was worried about OH's eyes. It's funny a similar thing happened to you as well.

Frank won't be happy with that score will he, but he will have enjoyed being there.

Good Evening All

Good to see you popping in Ann in Glos. I hope you have a Happy Christmas and New Year too, You should join us more often.

Shame that Frank's team didn't win today but hope it didn't spoil his special day.

Had a good smile about Sandra's joke and your runny nose Gill
They say great minds think alike, Ann & Gill with Frank's birthday cards being the same.

That was sad Jane that Ruth didn't remember you she may have done if you had actually been there..What a good age she is, My MIL was the same wanting to go home ,so sad she thought she was in a Hotel and wondered why Peter and I didn't have any food served to us when we visited her

Loved the picture of the elf Mandy, I expect the children are getting so excited now.
do they still believe in Father Christmas? They will be pleased when Mel makes that hat for him.

I hope everybody is starting to feel better, I' am not too bad now still have the sore throat etc but getting easier I have been busy today getting the two spare bedrooms ready and having a vacuum through the house, cleaning the bathroom and downstairs cloak room. Plus sorting out the fridge and two freezers as I have a Sainsbury delivery about 10o/c tomorrow morning It is a good feeling when you get most of the important jobs out of the way.

Paul has gone to Sam's, one of his best friend's wedding today. he had to hire a suit for the occasion . Her wedding took place at Stirrups country house Hotel on the outskirts of Bracknell, It's opposite the Oak Tree garden centre that I go to, very popular place for local weddings

Richard's just poured me a Bailey's on ice one of my favourites.

Stirrups looks very nice for a wedding Anne. That's interesting your MIL thought she was at a Hotel as we think FIL may have thought the same! He used to ask us who was paying and thought the upper floor was for the toffs! I used to like a Bailey's but it is quite rich and made me want another!

Sandra does enjoy a joke doesn't she. OH tells me if my nose is running then my feet must smell!

I have to go hunting for one of the books I have got for OH tomorrow. I've checked it was sent to me so where did I put it?