General Chat

Yes I was a busy bee yesterday ended up doing things which weren't on the to do list, but isn't that always the way.

I bet you're glad the decorators finished you'll soon be straight and have a lovely new bedroom in time for Christmas.

I'm still plodding on with the Christmas tree but thought I'd have a cuppa as my arms are going numb with holding them up to the top of the tree for so long.

I found a 3ft fibre optic tree which has now gone in Sandra's bedroom and I gave her a little fairy and some baubles to decorate it with, she is so chuffed having her room all Christmassy, it was a joy to see the smile on her face. She's been a bit down lately, her younger sister Michelle moved out in September so this is going to be the first Christmas without her. They are very close and she is really missing her, so I though the tree would cheer her up, she's now helping me do the 7ft one in the living room..

So I'm not the smallest one after all then Jane :-) :-)

Your post Ruby was interesting about Black Friday and yes I agree the mark up in some of these stores is terrible. You did well $45 are you going to treat yourself to something nice

I hope your OH got home ok Ann
Well, finished my cuppa now so back to the tree :-D

Much better day here, lot of sun although it is clouding up now. Wai**e this am, so shopping done for a couple of weeks, anything else we need can be got from the village shop which is a small supermarket + post office and is fine for day to day things. Merlin is out all day now after his summer upsets without his muzzle, we have to be careful on frosty sunny days, but apart from that he should be ok till next spring. I think we just have to accept that sometimes he does and sometimes he doesn't on the muzzle front!
Must empty the dishwasher, and put the lunch things in. A woman's work etc!!!!

Afternoon all,

I am late today as I have been hunting for a postal receipt for a pair of shoes I sent back. It appears they haven't received them. Ros gave me the receipt, but can I find it NO. I will need it if I have to claim for the loss.

I have also been sorting out all the trays above my computer. Where do all these sheets of paper come from, some with hardly anything on ???

Roast lamb and roasted root veg tonight. I have added some swede and potato's and done a sweetheart cabbage.

Ros has been ironing all morning, she didn't do last weeks bed linen. It makes a change for her, as she likes to wash and dry one day and iron the next.

Glad the decorating is out of the way Jane, now you can concentrate on Christmas.

Lets hope you have some nice pictures of the HOGS Mel. Don't forget to send them to me. Ros saw ours at 4.00 am this morning. She got up for a wee, and as she was getting back into bed the security light came on. There he was frozen to the spot, by the sudden light. But soon ignored it, and got on with his food. I ordered another two and a half kilos of "SPIKE" yesterday. so he won't go hungry. As we are going away for Christmas, I will have to get Tony to feed him !!!

I( didn't realise you were that small Fiona. What do they say "Little and GOOD" Happy birthday to Matteo. TWO TODAY. where has that time gone.??

My Mums hair was very long too, she would plait it and wind it round and round into a BUN at the back of her head.

I see that cricketer has died from that blow to his head. I saw on the news how it hit him under his ear on the side of his head poor chap.

Thanks for that Ruby, I wondered where that saying came from. You certainly had a good deal at the store. That postage and customs charge seems to be OTT.

Hope you get on with the tree today Gill. Do you have a real one ??

Ros is off to get her crown fitted at the dentist. NOT THE JEWELLERS She's a right little queen !!! ;-) ;-) ;-)

Just taken a load of garden waste down to the bonfire. Had hoped to have a fire but we can't till the spring in case 'hedgehogs' have decided to turn it into a 'des res'! so it will have to wait!
Well I never Ann! There was me thinking that you were the 'perfect wife' which explained your success on the present front. - obviously you have other attributes!! ;-) As well as a lovely hubby.
Yes Frank, that was quite dreadful about that cricketer. Sport seems to have got so aggressive and dangerous these days, accidents constantly waiting to happen. When I first knew him, Ian played cricket and rugby for a local team, (as did our son years ago), but I don't remember being anything other than bored! certainly not worried about serious injuries, especially with cricket - how times have changed!

Frank, I remember a saying , GOOD THINGS COME IN LITTLE BUNDLES,

Oh dear Frank I hope you find the receipt there's nothing worse and it's so annoying, at least you had a sort out of all your paper's. No I don't have a real tree it makes to much mess, I bought a 7ft snow covered artificial tree last year so that's gone up again and I've almost finished decorating it.

I'm having a break at the moment and catching up on "The Missing" had two to watch, forgot about last weeks episode so have watched that one and I've just started watching last night's, then off to my mum's she wanted me to go round this afternoon instead of this morning so the shopping will have to wait till tomorrow now
Hope everything goes ok for Ros at the dentist.

Mel I have to wash my hair over the bath too, far to long to do it any other way, mine is quite thick which is why it takes so long to dry and then I straighten it so quite a job from start to finish :-) I leave my hair down I find it's easier that way

Gill I bet Sandra it thrilled to bits with her very own Christmas tree :-D.I guess it will take her some time to get used to her Sister not being around.She must feel a bit lost without her.How old are your girls? My Daughter Hannah is 31 and lives in London.I have a 28year old son James who is still at home.
What a shame you lost your confidence in driving after your accident.I don't know what I would do if I couldn't drive now.Maybe one day you will feel able to give it another go.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATTEO <3 <3..2 years old already!!!!.I hardly seems any time since he was born.

I have been shopping :-D,and actually bought myself 2 coats.One will need the sleeves shortening a little though.What bargains there are.30% off in a lot of shops today.I bet it will be even better tomorrow and over the weekend with Black Friday.There is no way I will be going into town while that is on.I remember last year I didn't know anything about Black Friday and couldn't understand why everywhere was so busy.

Oh Frank I hope you find that receipt.I remember you lost something like that a few years ago and it was under a pile of clothes (or something)or a trouser pocket.Well my parcel has gone off to Cape Town.No more parcels to post now :-D.My Sister can take my presents for her G Children when she comes to visit on the 13th.

We have a real unhealthy dinner tonight.Something we haven't had for a long time.Burgers (with a pat of cheese on top) and Oven chips.The Burgers are from M&* nice big thick ones :-D :-D...Peas,Asparagus,and green beans .

Yes I am counting the days down now to move back in to our bedroom.I can see the air being a bit blue when it comes to Chris putting together some of the furniture :-S
I might go out and do a bit more shopping LOL

We have booked the decorator for March for the hall ,stairs and landing.But for the outside work (Fascia Boards) he can't do them until 2016 !!!!!.I just hope they will last until then as I don't really want anyone else to do the work.His poor young dog has possibly only got 6 months left as the tumour in her bladder is so big .They only thing that can be done at the moment is to put her on medication to try and shrink the tumour for a bit so that she can wee more comfortably :-( :-(.The vet had never seen a dog so young with such a massive growth in the bladder.

LOL Liz,I bet you have Hedgehogs living very comfortably down your garden.I always get Chris to make sure there are non in the metal bin that he has his bonfires in.
We never ever see any hogs in our garden.

Ooh it the next episode of The Fall tonight :-D :-D.The net is closing in now.I will probably have to watch it again tomorrow lol.You know what I'm like at nodding off :-S

Mel I thought you were going to have your hair cut a bit.Maybe it wouldn't break off so much if it had a bit of a trim.The longest I ever had my hair was just below my shoulders .I think I was about 21 then.But when I started Nursing I had it cut much shorter.

Chris is out in the Summer house again :-D.

Oh Jane how awful about that poor dog and at such a young age. We had a Red Setter/Yellow Lab light years ago when the children were young. She was a rescue, about 9 months old, (the vet said she hadn't had her first heat), when we got her, and apart from Millie was the loveliest sweetest girl you could wish for. Sadly poor Bunny had genetic problem with her spine which eventually paralysed her back legs and that was the end of her aged just over 2 (we think) certainly not much over, and we were all (including my parents!) completely heartbroken over her. I've loved all my dogs but Bunny and Millie stand just a little bit taller than the others! so I do feel for your decorator and of course his poor dog - such bad luck and totally shattering.
Oh yes! The Fall tonight. Just hope I don't have to keep looking away!!!!
Yes you do have to be a bit careful on the hedgehog front - that would be all we'd need to round off our year after Millie and poor little Ruby!!
I used to have very long hair to my waist, but after I had Laura I had it cut to shoulder length and wore it like that for years, so you could wear it up or down, but as I got older I had it cut shorter, it just looked better, and much easier to keep!!
We've got Jacket spuds tonight, smoked salmon and salad!

Hi all

Finally finished the Christmas tree, I didn't realise how much stuff I had to put on it. To be fair I did have a few breaks and I managed to catch up with "The Missing" Thanks for mentioning it Jane otherwise I would of missed an episode and then sat there wondering what was going on when watching last nights episode :-D :-D :-D.

My girls are 27 and 29 Michelle is the youngest and Sandra the eldest. Michelle has been talking about moving out for a while and ended up moving to Leeds in September just a few streets away from her friend. She was lucky she got a job almost straight away working in Subway as a trainee deputy manager. She worked at Subway in Heswall (the next village along to us) as a team leader so I suppose this is promotion for her.
She stayed with her friend for a while and then moved into her own flat yesterday. Her friend is expecting her third baby on Monday and needed the room back to make into a nursery, lets hope it's finished in time or the baby is slightly late :-).

Yes Sandra is made up with her room, she's never had Christmas decs in there before so it's cheered her up no end. She can't wait for it to go dark so she can see the lights better. She's hoping Michelle can come down for her 30th next year, Michelle said she would try her best but wasn't sure what holidays the rest of the staff have booked already and she can't book any holidays until her 3 month trial is over. Apparently all new jobs are like that now.

Off to start dinner now I'm starving

Evening all,

I am worn out ,we went to Norwich today Christmas shopping ,should have gone yesterday but the day started off with pouring rain so we put it off until today.
Came home loaded with bags and a few pounds lighter in the old purse !!
Took Lacey in to see Santa and she cried the whole time , wasn't at all happy to see poor Santa !! and he was a nice Santa too !!

Gill ,you been a busy bee ,i bet the tree looks good , that was a good idea to let Sandra have her own little tree to decorate, sounds as if it's really cheered her up.

Frank ,i hope the receipt turns up , hope you haven't sent it back in the box with the shoes :-S :-S

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATTEO <3 where has the two years gone !!

Got the family coming tomorrow for tea ,i'am doing a Beef Cobbler with veg and then a Nice Bread and Butter Pudding .

LOL Mandy.I have a photo of Hannah somewhere sat on Father Christmas's knee crying her eyes out.When you think of it though children never ever see anyone like Santa so he must be quite scary for some.They can only see his eyes and plus the big beard and all covered up in a big red robe lol.Are children allowed these days to sit on his lap? I know they stopped it some years ago.
Tell me again what a Beef Cobbler is.Is it with Dumplings? or a Pastry thing?

I bet it is mayhem at my Sisters tonight.Tomorrow William and his Daddy are moving out and into their own home again.It will be so good for her and my BIL to get their house back to themselves again.Some breathing space and peace :-D :-D.Even though little William will still be there part of the week during the days.

Jane it's a Beef stew base with scones on the top ,but i do mine a little different with a suet topping and cover the whole top of the stew .

I didn't think they were allowed to have the children sit on their knees any more ,i think Lacey was frightened because it was quite dark in there .
But a friend of ours who is a retired policeman is playing Santa in Jarr*lds in Norwich and he said he has the tiny ones on his knee but not the older children ,we didn't go down as far as J*rrolds or we could have taken her in there .

They must be looking forward to having the house to them selves again Jane , they have certainly done their bit for little William and his Daddy these last few years .

Evening All,

I bet you are glad to be home with your feet up for a bit Mandy after tramping around the shops. Fancy Lacey not liking Santa........mind you I don't think I liked him either!!

I see that poor cricketer has died. What a shame. It sounds like the helmets don't do a good enough job.

We were going to Northampton today and then to see the Xmas decs at Canon's Ashby, but we thought it may be too foggy. In the end we woke up late and stayed snuggled up in bed as OH's sciatica has flared up. :-) Then we went for lunch at the garden centre that was burgled. We got the papers in the village on the way and the little garage where the car wash is was all taped off with police tape and 2 police cars were there. Will have to look in the paper tomorrow, maybe it was a burglary as well? Then when we got to the garden centre an 'official' looking person was sat in the corner with a pile of paperwork. I said to OH that it wasn't an inspection like I used to do as we always took laptops and he hadn't got one!! I thought it may be their accountant, but after he went the lady came and said it was environmental health doing a spot check. She got her usual high marking which is displayed on the door as you go in. Then we went to Al*i to get some salad stuff and other things like some Christmas pickles.It's always worth popping in there from time to time......OH loves it as they are so quick on the tills, no gassing to each other and it's always a shock how small the bill is!! :-0

Oh dear Frank, you will have to turn the house upside down and look in all the most unlikely places. It is so annoying when you can't find a receipt.

Janice deserves a medal Jane. I would be doing a little jig if it was me!! I still have a little black number, but I'm too big for it now!! lol.

Perfect wife Liz?? Nothing could be further from the truth. I told him many years ago I wasn't 'wife' material, but he already knew that and years before we were married. So he has no expectations of me. He will be the one that says 'you don't want to be bothered with cooking do you, let's go out.' lol. I think he prefers me to help sort his tax return for him instead!!

Your daughter will love that little tree in her room Gill and I bet she won't want to take it down!

I can't get to see the nice doctor I've seen the last few times at our surgery now unless I wait till Christmas Eve as he is a locum and they don't need him again till then. He wanted to see me again in a fortnight so I can't wait that long. What a nuisance having to waste your precious 10 minute appointment having to go over old ground with what will now be a 3rd doctor!! :-|

Went off shopping about 12.30 and had a nice ride into Bideford. Bought three bottles of White Grenache which I like now with turkey. Asked about ordering a small turkey crown and the butcher told me the smallest they have is about 15lbs I asked if that was weight or money and he said weight and then he said there are plenty over there. I went over to where they were but they were all over twenty odd pounds and funny shapes!!!! so I went back to the butchers bit and saw the same man and asked if they had a smaller one he could do up for me. He came back and said the smallest they had was £17 something so I said yes and he packed it up for me and I must say it looks a lot better than the ones that were on the shelf. Popped it in the freezer as soon as I got home. Now I don't have to worry about that now.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MATTEO <3 <3 <3 <3 It certainly dos'nt seem like two years since we were getting pics of that lovely baby. Not a baby anymore though by those pics of him in the garden the other week. A proper little boy now. Bless him.

Gill how lovely for Sandra to have her own tree in her room. She won't want to sleep tonight with the pretty lights. I bet she is so excited. <3 Does Sandra like hedgehogs Gill? Would you like me to send a video?

Gill I don't have to straighten my hair as it is dead straight anyway. I just wish it had a bit of a wave in it. I plait it every night and oh hates it and is always telling me to get it cut. I did say I would have it cut when I was 60 but I am way past that now!

I have the camera out again tonight with it focused on the pop hole on the ark to see how many times they visit.

Yes there are rats on the videos too so I must charge up the bait box again tomorrow and see if I can find one of the other ones. I have three in all as I had two in the tunnel because the mice would eat the toms on the lower trusses and dig holes in the raised beds.

What are you like Frank losing the receipt for your shoes. It was keys you lost last time was'nt it? Just ask the borrowers for it back please three times and it may turn up.

Ian used to love my hair very long and was quite peeved when I had it cut particularly when I had it really short!! It's longer now, so we've compromisd!!
The Fall get's more sinister!! Half way now, think next week could be a watershed!
Time for bed.

yes Mel Sandra would love to see the video of your hedgehogs she's a massive animal lover and watched the polar bears Frank sent me, she liked it so much she had me playing it a few times.

I think having her room all Christmassy has taken her mind off her sister moving out, it's so nice to see her smile again, she's been so upset since Michelle left and no matter how many times I tried to explain things to her she just didn't understand. All she's said since it's gone dark is how pretty her Christmas tree looks. We live in a bungalow so she could see the coloured lights in her room each time she left the living room.

I did try to send this post a few minutes ago but it disappeared so if it's come through twice I'm sorry, I couldn't see it so decided to do it again.
Well off to bed now night night

Morning all and evening Kim,

Bit windy today and dull. we have a call duck in the gardn this morn ing. It is one of our neighbours drakes, I think she has 7 of them, all drakes. I saw them when I went round there for the flowers for the church. It is trying to get in our ponds but can't work out why there is netting round them. I think it thinks it's it's birthday with all that water as they hav'nt got a BIG pond like we have only a puddle compared to ours.

Gill I will try and send you a video. There are taken at night so in balck and white and at the moment a bit smaller screen wise than they used to be. You may have to download FreeMediaPlayer to be able to see them.

Have you seen on the news that in Brisbane they have had hail stones and villant winds and there's loads of damage.

Have just been folding our bottom sheet and I was reminded of how years ago when we had 'square corner' sheets, we both used to fold them, holding one end each and giving a good stretch and shake, before folding them to put into the airing cupboard, or 'hot press' as an Irish friend always called it!!!. I can remember watching my parents doing this as well, and my s.father managing to drop a corner half way through, by mistake on purpose to annoy my mother, which it did, much to our amusement! I found it less funny when Ian picked up this habit and did it to me!! Now we have fitted sheets so no need for dubious help!!
Bit of a grey morning here, so we may go over to Yate and see what 'Black Friday' has to offer!

FIRST AGAIN. Good Morning all, Evening Kim,

Still looking for the blooming receipt. if I don't find it, it will be £40.00 down the drain.

You all have been busy shopping and decorating. All I have done is cook and laze around.

We are going to Morris##s later and B & Q to get a few bits as Ros won't be out with Martine tomorrow. She is picking up the new dog. I hope the new one get on alright with the other. Ones a Labradoodle and the new one a German Sheppard.
Time will tell. you do hear some stories where the dogs don't get on, and the new one has to go back.

Ros is at the Nurse for a blood test, then we will be going out, so I had better get ready.

Trust you are all well, speak to you later.

Morning all

Silly me got up this morning, looked at the Christmas tree and realised I forgot to put the baubles on. I had so much stuff to put on the tree I didn't notice the box of baubles I'd put to one side till I got up this morning and saw them staring me in the face, I don't know how I managed to miss them yesterday :-D

Going to pop them on the tree now