General Chat

I'm glad you are feeling better today Ann. It sounds like another of these bugs you have had. Porridge and Blueberries sound just the ticket. I have had a good chuckle at your neighbours antics LOL I can just picture them :-D Like 2 Victor Meldrews :-D :-D

Chris did have the energy but has NONE now after doing the trees. He has had a good hot shower and is going to read the paper and do nothing else for the rest of the day. I think he took one tree down and part of the Hazelnut Tree.He is feeling the effects now LOL

These tablets Ann are do do with the Psoriasis . Called Acetretin or another name I cant think of. Something to do with Vitamin A and it slows down the skin growth .It is all beyond me lol . I just would really like to stop taking them now if posssible. I am supposed to take them until May which will be 12 months since I first started them.
Just checked they eyebrows and they too seem to be getting less :-S :-S
I don't like this :-(
That is good OH has had the letter already to arrange the Cataract op. If he can get that done in the next month or two then you should be good for your Cornish Holiday :-D..Larry was able to drive just after few weeks of having his done.

I have lit the fire as it is so gloomy and a little chilly too now. Stll no sign of Thomas !!

Lamb Shanks for us 2 tonight. These are new ones from Waitrose and havent had them before .

Did Gill post yesterday? I'm not sure she did. (unless I missed her) Hope all is fine.

Ann those cats yesterday knew the right place to sleep didnt they :-D :-D

Ann I had to laugh at the boys at the end of the Close. I am sure they would tell you how many people came to see the new house. It is a bit soon after Christmas though as most peeps would be wanting to view houses etc a bit later on I would have thought.

Afternoon Folks,

We did have a bit of sun for a short while just before lunch but it has gone now! Mel must have pinched back again! :-D :-D

Chris must be feeling energetic to be up the tree like that Jane. Is he taking the whole tree down or just shortening the branches? It sounds pretty miserable with the effects you are getting with the tablets so it would be good if you could reduce/stop them. What are the tablets for that are causing the problems?

I feel a lot better this morning but still a bit wobbly and not fancying much to eat. I just had porridge with blueberries for lunch. I have had a giggle though! The sale of the new house at the end of the close fell through according to a neighbour the other day and he said there was to be an 'open day' today for folk to come and look around. When we looked out of the front window this morning, the 2 neighbours at the end of the close each side had each moved one of their cars onto the road so it would be tight to drive through to the new house! One was 'busy' cleaning one of his other cars and the other was 'busy doing nothing' with a broom in his hand. He'd also brought a radio out and turned it up loud! A few minutes later his wife had brought him a plate of sandwiches to eat outside! Honestly, they are like little boys who didn't get their own way!! I went to do a few errands then. :-S

OH got a letter through this morning to ring up about booking his cataract to be done, which I thought would take at least a few weeks to come! So when he rings up on Monday and gets a date, if it's quite soon, I may be able to book up our trip to Cornwall. :-D

He's gone to a match near Derby this afternoon so I have the dishwasher and washer going. It always feels like I am working then even if I am sitting down!

Afternoon All
Still very dull and dreary here Mel. That is 3 days like this now .It may be even 4 :-S
Chris is sawing up logs now with the chain saw . I think the branches have all been burned now. I think he has quite enjoyed being outside again and out from under my feet :-D

So OH is still up in the loft. We have a pretty rubbish light in our loft .It is fine for half the loft but to see right to the end you need a big torch.

I wonder how the meal was last night for Frank snd Ros. Hopefully he wasnt up all night with indigestion !

Its really dark in here and I need the lights on. I have just asked Alexa to play some nice gentle soothing music.It is lovely and relaxing.It might send me of to sleep soon :-D.If it does I shall have to have something a bit more upbeat.

I have realised this morning that my eyelashes are disappearing :-S It is these tablets causing it. What with my hair coming out and now the lashes it is getting bad now. So I am going to make an appointment and see if I can possibly stop taking them now.I cant go on like this ,plus all the difficulty with walking because the pills affect the muscles.Its all getting a bit much now for me and it is really getting me down.

Thomas seems to be up his old tricks again :-S. He didnt appear last night until almost 11 and then was wanting out at 5 this morning. :-S :-S There has to be rabbits somewhere.I havent seen him since I let him out.

I need to unpack my food shopping.It has been sat in the kitchen for ages. Thankfully there is nothing frozen :-D

I liked the pic of Chris the Lumberjack.

Oh is fitting the old bathroom round strip light up in the loft.

Morning all,

Well its dull and dreay here today so I suppose you lot have wished this on us as we were havin g nice sun and you lot were'nt.

Mandy

A finger of Fudge is just enough to give your kids a treat
A finger of Fudge is just enough until it's time to eat
It's full of Cadbury goodness but very small and neat
A finger of Fudge is just enough to give your kids a treat

I had a good go at my crafting yesterday afternoon and evening. Did'nt have to cook dinner so he had toasted cheese sandwiches a nd I had beans on toast with cheese on top.

Evening All,

No sun here either!

That's a good idea about a hot water bottle Mandy. I was watching those dispensing machines on tv the other night for the homeless and thought they were a good idea. They have to have a card to use and can get 3 free items a day, things like a drink, fruit, sandwich, toothbrush and paste and sanitary towels for women, socks. The Co-op here give to the local community, so I am not surprised they look after the homeless man by giving him things Jane. It's great they let him stay there as long as he isn't begging from customers and he's no need to if they are giving him things. It's good you had a chat with him, as, in his situation you must feel very excluded from normal life if folk pass you by and no-one seems to care or even speak to you. Even if you don't have drink/drug problems it would take enormous inner strength to dig yourself out of the situation if you had no -one to turn to or help you or give you support. Not everyone is as kind as you or Mandy either and no-one needs insults or rocks thrown at them when they are in such a sad situation.

That's very handy having the window to chuck stuff out of your loft Mel. It sounds like you had a lot of stuff up there! Is there any left now? I should really sell some of my 60s clothes I have in ours as they'll never fit me now and are being advertised as 'vintage' nowadays. I don't have much, a nice fitted black maxi coat and a few dresses. The loft's very tidy with most stuff in plastic boxes but I'm sure there are things like old tv stands up there that could go as 3 of our tvs are now fixed to the wall. OH has a lot of his (now) old fashioned older work suits up there that he said the other day he needs to clear out. Quite a few are pinstriped navy, grey or black and have trousers with turn ups and double breasted jackets and some with waistcoats too!!! lol.

Frank it will be good to have JJ visit again as he seems to be at home as soon as he arrives and is no trouble. Good idea not to encourage Biggles coming for long though as you mustn't risk falling over him.

I seem to be a bit out of sorts since last night, didn't sleep well and this morning got so cold I went to bed with a hot water bottle when I got home and even kept my fleece coat on at first. It's not like me to be cold!! I feel a bit better now though so I think an early night will help. My friend's 2 cats were sleeping in their beds in front of the radiator and where they would catch any warm rays of sun if there had been any today. They know where the cosiest spots are don't they! The one with longer fur and tufty toes has the most velvety soft fur on her head.

Dinner in now. Chicken Crown with Garlic and herb ,and a tray of Charlottes,Jerusalm Artichokes,Olives,Cherry Tomatoes and Lemon slices.

Mel OH did a good job clearing all that today from the loft and getting it burned.If he is anything like Chris tonight he will be cream crackered. His fingers all look like big sausages and he doing an awful lot off ooffing and aahing. He says once he has eaten he will be hitting the sack.
So it looks like it will be me and Thomas this evening if Chris is in bed and James has gone.

Evening all,

Much better day here we even had a little sun after a very foggy start .

Mel that was good of you offering any bits ,i'll bear that in mind when it comes to making the little ones their costumes thank you.
So the clear out has begun, that's very handy having the window to throw things out ,have you found any treasure yet ? there's usually some thing that turns up that hasn't seen the light of day for a while .

Frank hope the meal was nice ,you like having little JJ don't you , and one night of Biggles is enough is it .
What a shame Harvey hates flying it would have been nice to all get together in the summer .

I got some windows cleaned today ,not outside just the inside ones ,also had a good dust round and a good hoover through .

I've had a tune in my head all day as i had a fudge sweet out of the christmas chocolates it was A finger of fudge is just enough to give the kids a treat ,a finger of fudge is ?????? but i carn't remember the rest .

That was nice you had a chat with Steve Jane i know Nicko was pleased when i stopped to chat to him it must be so lonely for them on the streets ,he probably does have the things that they carn't sell at the end of the day but there's nothing like a good hot meal this time of the year .
Does he have far to go to get to Johnnys Happy Place ? Perhaps he's not one for mixing with other people .
I suppose he will look a bit dishevelled as this time of the year all his clothes must get so damp .
I wonder if he was given a hot water bottle if the ladies at the Co.op would fill it with hot water for him ,i was going to give Nicko one but luckily he got some where in the dry for the winter .
I have seen Nicko round the town Jane but i'm usually in the car so haven't had a word with him lately but he looks nice and tidy so he must be in some where as he doesn't have his bag with him any more so thats good .

Afternoon All

Mel you have had sun again!! .We have had a foggy horrible day yet again.No rain just yucky. Chris has been all day burning the branches again and still have more to do tomorrow.
He went off about 9.30 this morning to the garden centre in Burton Latimer for Parafin but the road was closed off on Barton Road.Lots of Police . We have since heard that a lady had beeen found dead at the side of the road(just along from your old house Frank) .They thought at first she must have been hit by a car but it is looking like she may just have died :-(. I am sure there will be something on the news later.

So JJ is coming to visit again Frank :-D :-D. That will be lovely for you. It the lady who has Biggles is hinting that he comes to you for a fortnight I would just pretend that I was probably going to be away for some of that time so couldnt possibly look after him.
I dont know if 'Country Companions' is still going Frank. It is a girl who has a grooming parlour but also had a few people who would take dogs into their own home. I used her for Chester and he went to a lady in Wellinborough for his holidays for a while.

That is some menu!!! I hope you both found something you fancied and that it was really good. I wonder where Ros and the ladies will go now for their Choir Practise ,somewhere a bit warmer I
:-D
Speaking of Warmer.. On the way back from the hairdressers I popped into the little Co-op and the homeless man was there. Sitting outside with all his belongings in a huge black plastic bag.He was looking after someones dog while they were in the shop. Finally I was able to give him those Hand Warmer things that I bought ages ago for him. He looked a bit dishevelled today which is unusualand I noticed his nails were dirty too which again is very unusual . I think he is depressed :-(. Not surprising really when you realise where he lives. He has a tent behind a big Billboard down by the Railway Bridge .I think he is there with another man. I had a good chat and asked how Christmas was for him. He said it was a bit miserable as he couldnt face going to have the Christmas meal laid on for any homeless person .He is called Steve and is in his predicament after a failed marriage. I asked if he every went to Johnnys Happy Place and he has but not for some time. He knows Denise (Johnny's Mum) .I explained that Johnny had been a friend of my James. So we had a good natter and he thanked me for the chat. I got a bit of a lump in my throat then.He said he has permission from C0-op headoffice to sit outside the shop as he doesnt ever ask anyone for money or anything. He said they look after him which is great. I expect he gets given things maybe at the end of the day which they might not be able to sell the following day. While I was talking to him lots of people said hello to him and a man came out and gave him four bottles of Ironbru (wrong spelling there ! ) Steve doesnt like Hostels as there are too many drunks and druggies.
I felt a bit bad asking him all these questions and said I hoped he didnt mind. He said no he was quite happy to talk and enjoyed it. As I drove off he gave a wave :-D.
I will make sure I stop and have a proper chat with him each time I see him now.

Any news on Nikko Mandy?

I must get this dinner on the go. It is so late and James is off to Jess for the weekend .

Frank you must tell us what you have had when you get back. I hope you both enjoy your meal.

so are you going to take Biggles for the night? I know you won't want him for two weeks as he was a bit of trouble last time was'nt he. You don't want to be falling over him and either of you hurting yourselves.

Oh has cleared a whole BIG trailer load out of the loft and has taken it out of the garden and burnt it along the side of our road in front of the little wood. There were bags with pillows in and one was a feather one which he said had burst open and stunk as it burnt.

I am now going to do some felting as he is not going up in the loft again today.

Its turned all cloudy here now and it is so cold out.

Well, here I sit, hungry and patient, while madam is drying her hair.

I have just looked at the menu for the pub we are going to. It's got to be one of the BGGEST CHOICE menu's around. There must be 15/20 starters, The same with mains, plus 10 grills, and many more options. Of course there is the sweet menu, plus Ice cream Sundie's etc. I can see us having a job choosing WHEN WE GET THERE. < ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)

Good Morning Mel, and all,

Same weather as yesterday, dark and dismal.

Just had a call from Jan. She, Jo and Ella are coming to stay with Kerry next weekend, and who do you think we are having. JJ They will drop him off Friday and pick him up Monday, That is providing Ella can have the day off school. It will be so nice to have him with us. He loves it here, and we love having him.

That doesn't sound too good for Oscar Jane, if he is dripping blood. I just hope he doesn't suffer. xxx

Ann I will mention your ideate Harvey when he comes to look at the job. It sounds a great idea to me. It will give her the space she wants without all the patching. I'm not sure that I still have spare floor tiles to match the existing floor as well. THANKS. xx

Gill, Think before you leap. A move is a BIG THING to do just to get away from your MUM. In the passed you have managed to patch things up, so why not this time. ?? Would you move from the area, and cut ties with friends and family.?? As I said give it a lot of thought, and listen to UNCLE FRANK.

Jane, the mince was very nice last night, and we cleared the lot. I have a voucher from a local eatery with 30% off the food, which we might use today. It will get me out of the house for a couple of hours, and save me cooking tonight.

I am still doing well on the drink front. I am down to 3 cans a night. Which I find to be comfortable with, and might well settle for a lesser amount than I was use to.

Conrad has lost out on a Villa that he was going to move into, on a permanent basis.It appears they have a buyer for it, so he will have to wait to see if another pops up, that the company dosen't need to sell. It will mean him renting a Villa for when (I hope) we go out there for our 40th anniversary in June. I would love Harvey,Julia and Lewis to join us, but there is no way we can get HARVEY to FLY.

I will ring my sister later today, to see how she is, and whether she is concerned about Michael looking after her. She told me the other day, that a neighbour offered to do a bit of housework for her. She hoovered the hall, landing, stairs and lounge and had the cheek to charge her £20.00 Who needs neighbours like that ???

Ros came home like a BLOCK OF ICE last night. They have changed venues to the Church in Milton Malsor as it was suppose to be a warmer place, NOT SO. What will happen now no ones knows. !!!

Ros was asked last night if we will have "BIGGLES" over night at the end of January as they are going to a London show. She also hinted that they are going to India for two weeks, and it looks like they will need to book him into KENNELS. Roa made no comment. GOOD GIRL. !!!!

Off for a shower and shave, and get dressed. Have a good day, whatever you are up to. !!

Morning all,

We have a frosty start this morning but the sun is shining too. Its still very cold though.

There's a couple of crows strutting along our road this morning like they own the place.

I need to go and get our scripts today and see if I can get an appointment with the doc to see if I can get Omeprazole in a higher dose like oh has. Jane what dose to you have to take? Mine are 10 and oh's are 20.

We have to pay a deposit to the agents when we book our week Jane so would lose that if we then had to cancel. We could book direct with the owners I'm sure, but then we wouldn't get the 20% discount we get from Benenden by going through the agent!! The lodges are tending to get booked up more quickly each year now since the hot tubs were installed, so I didn't want to leave it too long. We could go after the summer like last year, but it is so pretty with the wild garlic etc in April/May. June-August will be too hot, noisy on the site with children, would cost a lot more and be busier everywhere to park etc so we always avoid those dates! lol. We stayed at Annecey quite a few years ago and I remember parts we saw were very pretty.

I cleared out most of my materials and other stuff when I moved here as there wasn't room for it all with moving from a bigger place to a smaller one. I have a button tin though with additions from MIL's tin when we cleared their house out.

Frank, it may be cheaper to leave the sides of the chimney breast in place, knock the front out and put a lintel above and fit a frame and cupboard doors on the opening. She'd have more cupboard space without needing the ceiling patching or the walls and floor making good. ;-) It's the bedroom I need more space in for all my clothes that don't fit!! lol. :-)

Better sort my beading bag for tomorrow now.

Love the idea of the stiles in the loft Mel,epecially if they stop OH doing himself a mischief :-D. Having a window to chuck stuff out is going to be really useful too.

Ann, can you book your holiday but not pay until you go ? Or do you have to pay up front? We have booked our holiday on a reserve and pay when we get there and no cancellation fee.I think we coud cancel right up to the day before. We have done it this way because of my hip (just incase I had to have anything done)
I can understand you not wanting to be having to do all the driving and with a difficult passenger too LOL.It is a long way to Cornwall.
I had my re referral for the Rheumatologist come through today and it is the 1st March now instead of July which is really good.

Frank i wonder if your Sister is not so keen on having her other Son keeping an eye on her while the other is away. But he does have to be able to have his holiday .I hope she isnt going to make him feel guilty about going. She has been through so much this past year and I feel very sorry that she is feeling so low.

That was a great bargain with those Shampoos for Ros. I have not thought about looking to see if I can get the same one I buy at my hairdressers on line. I must give it a go. Oh no having the chimney breast out in the kitchen !!!!! think of all that mess !!!!.
Does Ros really want to get rid of it or was it just a thought?
Your dinner sounds nice tonight. I love a good tasty mince.My Sister cant eat it.She feels sick at the thought lol. She is like that with mashed potato and eggs too.Mash has to be put through a potato ricer to make sure there is not one tiny lump, and with eggs she has to get rid of the blood spot before cooking them.
I had a lovely mashed softish boiled egg on toast for my lunch today. I was late getting back from town and was starving and I just had a fancy for that.It was delish :-D
Meatballs and Spag for Chris and me tonight and Curry for James.

Ann you are right about nothing ever going smoothly for Janice and Larry.There is always something and nothing is of their own making. I do hope that Oscar's willy problem is not going to be too awful.There is a tumour on the end and the vet said there is another further up on the Urethra :-( The only reason they took him to the Vet was because blood was dripping :-(

Chris has just this minute come in from the garden. He has been burning all the branches from the tree . I yelled down the garden just now as I suddenly realised it was pitch black and he was still down there. But he said he could see what he was doing by the light of the bonfire .I think he still has a bit more to burn tomorrow .
I must remember I have a hair appointment tomorrow. I never ever have it done on Fridays and should have had it done on the 4th but cancelled it as that is when Mark,Kate and Freya were coming. I think I will leave myself a big NOTE :-D

Gill dont over do it with all the packing and sorting.You wont be moving just yet and you dont want to make your self ill again being worn out.Try and pace yourself <3
How is Sandra now? I hope she still isnt too upset with all that is going on.

I think I must be about the only one here who doesnt have a stash of lace ,buttons and materials LOL . I did many years ago have Mums old tin of Buttons but my Sister had that as it was no use to me.I must ask her if she still has it.

I shall cook these meatballs now so they will be ready just to put in the sauce later.

Afternoon All,

A dull and gloomy day here too!

We have never had anniversary cards other than the ones we exchange either. I hope you had a nice day anyway Gill and that Sandra enjoyed making some cards for you. :-) Don't get overdoing it with the packing. Have you any idea where you will move to?

Janice and Larry seem to have had more than their share of troubles Jane so it must have been such a relief that Larry got the all clear! The poor dog though. I do hope it hasn't spread and that they can do something.

Frank you have been busy getting Ros some bargains! :-) Ithink it must have been the fried onions that gave you indigestion. Too much fat like in the fish batter. I have to leave some now or I get the same! It's a shame your sister feels so low and unhappy. Is she able to go out at all or just not mobile at all now? I think you are doing all you can in offering support by chatting and listening to her.

Mel it sounds like the new bulbs are a lot easier on the eyes. We had some new bulbs in our kitchen that seemed so strong and bright you could do operations under them!! We changed them as well. The stiles your OH is making will certainly make life easier for him in the future. Sometimes you wonder why you haven't done these things years ago when you see how much better they make things.

OH had quite a medical day yesterday. Dentist first for a filling, then hearing test (he is on the borderline like me but in both ears), then eye test (the optician is referring him to have his cataract done). It's a bit awkward now as she said he should hear and get an appointment within the next 3 months, so I daren't book our trip to Cornwall now till I know when!! I would do all the driving, but with all the driving about he likes to do when we are there I would be shattered. Also he isn't a very good passenger, loud exclamations at something he sees, and startles you just as you are about to pull out onto an island........and in his help with directions he tends to say unhelpful words like 'this way' or 'there' and is surprised when you can't read his mind! :-S :-S We'll just have to see how things pan out.

Those stiles sound a great idea Mel, and if it protects his "UNDER CARRIAGE" that must be a good thing. LOL

Still a damp horrible day here, and don't see any change for the rest of the day.

Have been watching Michael Palin. He is on his last leg in Brazil, and he is now in Tibet on his other programme. Will miss them now they are over.

I rang my sister the other day, when she was very low. and not wanting to live as she is. I think part of it is sympathy as her youngest son (PAUL) is off to see THE NORTHERN LIGHTS tomorrow, She will be relying on the other son (Michael) to keep an eye on her. I will ring again tomorrow to check up on her.

Ros will be pleased when she gets in. I ordered two new shampoos that she uses. They cost £18.00 at the hairdressers. I found them on Ebay for £10.00 each with free P & P. hey both turned up in the post today. Together with another gadget that you use for making flowers and decorations, with this needle thingy. You push it up and down through material and you shape things how you like. I saw it on FACE BOOK at £20.00 plus P & P. I got it on Ebay for less that a FIVER. So it pays to shop around.

I have done Mince Beef with carrot, onion and peas. All cooked down in the pan. Transferred to a dish, and covered with this slices of potato. and dabbed with butter. I will do some cabbage and runners beans to go with it. It surprised me how long it took to prepare. I hope Ros enjoys it, before going to Choir Practice this evening.

Another night on my own !!!!

I have got lamb chops out of the freezer for tonight. I only buy them when they are on offer as they are so expensive otherwise with just the little round loin and a bit on the end. I grill them so the fat crisps up as I like it like that but only eat the crispy bit. I won't eat any other soggy fat and can't stand it in my mouth.

I saw a vapour trail in the sky this mornn ing when I went round to do the chickens. I hav'nt seen one of those for a long long while with the sky being so cloudy lately.

We have, at the moment, blue sky wall to wall and it makes you feel so much happier.

Sorry you had another badish night Frank. Have you rung your sister lately?

Just having a COC and then I am going to cut something out for my craft and then it will be time to get the lunch.

Oh has made another stile for the loft this morning but has put the wood he makes them out of in the loft yesterday and he still needs to make two more. Then he can get right through the loft without bending under or clambering over the supports for the roof.

Good morning Gill, Mel, and all.

Didn't get to the pub last night. I had terrible indigestion after fried onions. Must stop eating them, they just don't agree with me.

Glad that Larry is A O.K. It must be a worry. I had a check up a few weeks ago, all was fine.

Ros has loads of old LACE from her Grandmother and mother. It sits in cupboard over the head board. I wonder if and when she will do anything with it !!!

I sat through "GIRL FRIENDS" last night. What a strange lot they are. It's not something that appeals to me, but Ros seemed to enjoy it.

We had a lovely end to the day weather wise, yesterday. This morning it was dark and miserable as usual.

I had a very bad night las night. Went to bed at 10.00. still awake when Ros came in 11.45. Got up at 2.00 still hadn't slept. Took more Galveston, but still laid burping to gawd knows what time. I was awake before 6.00 am and just laid until I got up at 8.00. I called Ros at 9.00 as she is at Stitchery do. She is leaving that early as she is having her nails done at 2.30. I expect her home around 4.00. So a nice quiet day again on my own.

Jane my old LAB had Cancer in his undercarriage, we kept him comfortable for as long as we could, but the end was inevitable, and I had to have him put down. I do hope Oscar doesn't have to suffer with his willy. Poor old chap. That is always the down side of having pets. They do tend to die on us, at some stage. xxxx

Madam is now wanting the Chimney breast that is in the kitchen behind the lounge fire TAKEN OUT. She said it will make more space, for MORE CUPBOARDS. I have said DON'T FILL THE CUPBOARDS SO MUCH that you have, we could last a month without buying soups, B beans tins of Salmon, pilchards, sardines, the list goes on and on. LOL LOL The sauces cupboard over the cooker, is just the same. I don't think there is a spice or sauce in there, that hasn't been produced.that she hasn't got.

Need to sort something for dinner tonight. Have a NICE DAY see you all later.