General Chat

Morning All. Evening Kim,

Sunny but cold,
Victoria's washing machine has stopped working, it had to be a monday as thats her busy household day, once she puts Sofia into school she does most of her house work, anyway she will be down about 12.00 to put her washing in my machine, , good job I have done my jumpers etc early on, knowing Victoria she will have loads of washing. mind you the machine has lasted 6 years , told her she better get a new one earlier than later before the christmas holidays,

Better get on and get some of my household chores done, will get nothing done when Matteo comes.

Afternoon all and evening Kim,

Been raining here this morning. I had a call for a special ring this morning with now artificail flowers, all natural please? I have it each year from a friend in the village for her sons grave in our churchyard. I always enjoy doing that one as it is different from the others. Will take a pic later.

Oh still full of cold and forgot his appointment at the dentist this morning.

The name Prickly Hollow was one that came to me last night as I watched for the hogs. I had thought of Prickly Bottom but I think Hollow is better.

Hope Lewis gets on ok at the dentist today and wish him a speedy recovery. <3

Thanks to Ruby and William for your cards.

William I have rung the bells in the church you painted the picture of so it was a good choice thankyou.

Thanks to William for his card . it's lovely, Both you and Maureen are so talented when it comes to painting etc,

Here I am after going back to bed this morning. I got up at 1.00 pm Those horrible pains in my chest again, now after some tablets I hope is goes away. I did feel lousy , so thought bed was the best place.

Ros went to pick Lewis up from school. BUT the silly woman turned off at Junction 14 which is the Milton Keynes turn off, instead of Jcn. 12 which is the Toddington turn. Then believe it or not, when she came back to join the Motorway to come home, she turned SOUTH and went to LUTON, so had to turn around and make her way home. UP THE MOTORWAY !!! I don't know what I am going to do with her. She worries me sick. ;-) ;-) ;-)

There are some good deals around for washing machines Fiona, so it's better to do something now rather than leave it. especially with a family to wash for.

I had FIVE cards addressed to ME today. So they have been confiscated until the 22nd.

Lewis is now in the dentists chair having his two teeth out. I do hope he is O.K. He has taken a towel with him to hold over his mouth, to keep the cold out. I have plenty of pain killers if he needs any.

Yes Jane a camera photo isn't as good as a camera, but you did try.

That name is so nice Mel, it has a nice ring to it :-D :-D <3 <3 <3

Frank thats what I thought.

Have just shut the chickens in and fed the hedgehogs and am now eating a cherry liquer as I type . We have had no heating on today at all. Hav'nt needed it as it is quite mild out. Shall have it on for a while tonight though when oh has gone to bed. With this cold he breaths better when the heating is off. He says it dries his throat out and makes him cough more.

Sweeties all gone so I had better make oh a coffee and cake.

Ooh it's getting chilly again now.I didn't think it was too bad today.

Thanks Gill and Ruby for your cards today.(Gill did mine get to you?)

Oh dear Frank.Poor Ros going the wrong way twice .It's easy done though.I know that has happened to us more than once :-S.Hopefully Lewis is all finished at the Dentist now and that his mouth isn't going to be too sore.Good idea for a towel to keep the cold off.

I got my clutch pedal sorted with a new rubber cover (I think I said accelerator earlier).But it was the clutch.So I feel safe driving again now :-D.
2 sittings here for dinner.James and Jess will have theirs first as Jess is going home this evening.Then it will be our turn.The men are having Chicken breasts with Asparagus wrapped in Pancetta ,Roesmary Potatoes and Broccoli and green beans .Jess and I are having Minted Lamb Pinwheels plus the rest.I haven't had the Pinwheels for ages.I bought these ones yesterday at Beckworth Emporium from the Butcher counter.I am looking forward to them :-D

Evening all ,

Been quite chilly again but at least the wind has dropped a bit ,it was so windy here yesterday and it pouring with rain when we let Toby out for his last wee last night .

Lovely photo's of the trees Fiona , i use to decorate two trees ,one in the lounge and one in the conservatory ,but we only have the one lounge now .

Jane Fitz's tree looks nice too ,would like to see a photo taken with your camera as the phone does make it look a bit blurry with the lights .

Thanks William for the lovely Christmas card :-D that one will be kept with the ones from Maureen , you are a clever old stick i wish i could draw like that .

I hope Lewis is not to uncomfortable after having his two teeth out ,at least his gums should be healed enough for him to enjoy his Christmas dinner .
Poor Ros going the wrong way twice !! i'am so glad we don't to go on any motorways ,we only have the duel carriage way on the A47 to cope with and that's bad enough when you get wedged between two of those big old lorries !!

Hubby was home early today, son wanted to go with DIL to the Coffee and Carols at Chelsea's and Katie's school ,and as hubby was working up on the roof he doesn't like being up there on his own in case he slips , son and DIL parked at ours and walked through the church yard to the school , on the way they dropped Lacey off here, she's quite comical ,she keeps saying "Nanny you need more wood on the fire " she then hops up on the sofa when i open the woodburner door .

I'm glad you are enjoying my Christmas cards, I aim to please if I can. Fancy you ringing ! I think I sent you the one of St Merrin didn't I? I used to spend a lot of time around there when I was (younger) as my late brother had a caravan on the Harlyn Bay site. A lovely area to be around and so much to draw and paint.

Well, we had sausages, mash and carrots for our meal this evening and it was delicious. Funny how the simple things can be so nice. This time next week I guess it will be all over the top meals. I sometimes prefer the simple things. Carmel will often say when we want a bite to eat, "what do you want" - to which I reply bread and jam - which she thinks is a joke on my part. I love bread and jam, especially blackcurrant jam. I think it takes me back to my young day during and just following the war when there wasn't much variety around anyway. Often folks would use their sugar ration to make home made jam with fresh fruit - absolutely bloomin' lovely, can't be beaten.

As we are approaching Christmas week, maybe we can expect some decent programmes back on the TV except endless repeats and rubbish programmes. How the media has changed and some of it I can't understand. What do the call radio programmes 'shows' - I mean, you can't SEE anything can you? Then on the TV the unseen announcers keep saying 'COMING UP', sounds like someone hasn't digested their meal!!! Then it's the weather presenters "Here is YOUR weather" - why? Do they have different weather to the rest of us!

Oh, yes I'm back, nit picking as usual. Here, we had a funny phone call today. I answered the phoned to a very well spoken lade why said " Hello, this Elaine at Leicester Royal Infirmary, I'm ringing about Tristan" - I had to stop her and say I'm sorry, you must have the wrong number. I wonder what that was all about ???
Another funny thing happened yesterday, and Ann will have more of idea of what I'm talking about. I 'd taken the car to the drive through car wash locally and was just leathering the wet off when a car pulled in bedside me. A middle aged lady with an elderly man passenger asked me if I could direct her to Dobbies. I told her I would find it difficult as it was about 10 miles away near Atherstone. Then she produced a piece of paper with Dobbies, Rye Piece Ring Way Bedworth and a post code. I told her she was looking at Rye Piece and all there was were houses and the only Dobbies I knew was a garden centre. She replied that was right and she was to meet her sister there. Again, I told her there was no garden centre anywhere near and the only Dobbies was the one near Atherstone. Anyway, she closed the window, got on her mobile and eventually drove off!!!

Do others on her get annoyed when they get messages asking for help from their tree and after faithfully giving information then don't even get a 'thanks' from the inquirer? Or is it just me???

Anyway, must crack on, I'm slowly working my way through photographing all my Russian models in my collection. It keeps me off the streets, as my Dad would have said. TTFN

Evening All,

Well, Christmas has arrived here now as well! We got cracking yesterday and finished the tree, (and the branch Mel. ;-)) That comes out every year now. lol Then we did the mirrors and fire and put the other bits and bobs out. Then we went to see the film, but when we got back we had the marathon job then to clear all the boxes into the conservatory, clear up the mess and glitter and dust and hoover everywhere. We had to get it done as the roofer was coming at 8.00am this morning. :-S I went to Grantham and left OH to deal with him. Well, I had to move my car out of his way anyway! ;-) OH thought he would go out while he was here but I said he should stay in as we didn't know the man and he may be on his own and need help if, heaven forbid, he fell. As Mandy said, it can be slippy on a wet roof. As it turned out 2 of them came and had it done in less than an hour. Typical, OH never even asked if they wanted a drink and I reminded him before I left. :-S

Then when I got home, 2 neighbours were just leaving our bungalow. The interview the local radio did with the 3 of them last week about the building plan and taking our neighbour's land was aired this morning and they'd been listening to it together on the radio iplayer! The builders were named on air but had refused to speak on the matter, saying they will attempt to resolve it with the neighbour whose land they have grabbed on their plans. The parish council have strongly objected to the latest plans in the past few days, so we'll see what happens with the planning people at the district council next.

I had a bit of success with technology today! :-D I have a small dvd player in the bedroom, which wouldn't play since they put the s*y box in there, even though the engineer said it should be fine. I got the booklets to it out and the telly ones and realised the scart lead was missing and think it must have been used to connect the s*y box up instead. The tv is on the wall, so I got a mirror behind it and found the scart sockets were all used. Then after more reading I found I could use another connection at the tv end, bought a cable and BINGO......it all works fine!! Then while I was looking at stuff for the telly I found it could play certain things from the internet like the iplayer, youtube, so started to look at how to do that! Less success. :-( It needs a dongle (expensive one!), but most reviews show that it often doesn't work very well, depending on your wireless signal, how far the tv is from the router etc. even if other laptops, phones connect ok.I don't want to spend on something unless I know it will work, so will scratch my head a bit longer on that!!

Fitz's tree is great again Jane......it looked better once I had turned it the right way up!! :-) Fiona's 2 trees look great as well.......OH loves those christmassy fireguards. :-)

I hope poor Lewis's teeth are ok now. I bet he's glad that's over with. It will all be worth it to enhance his good looks!! Very sensible to go out after a quick 'hello' Frank, better than risking upset.

Looking forward to seeing a pic of the special wreath Mel, you've certainly got cracking with them all. How many years have you been doing them? Hope your OH feels better soon and I find cooler air does seem to help. Prickly Hollow is a good name......now you need to get your OH making a sign!

William I think simple meals can be so much nicer than 'fancy ones'. I love a plate of Ham Eggs and Chips :-) Or Sausage ,mash and baked beans( don't fancy carrots with that )

It's sounds like it has been all go at your house today Ann,what with the neighbours in ,you being all technical sorting out your cables ,connections, dongles lol.I love the name Dongle( haven't got a clue what it is though :-S :-S ) even thoughI have heard of it .
I still don't understand why my pics from my phone come out sideways :-S :-S.I will try with my camera .Must ring Fitz to see when I can go down again and take a pic of his tree in the daylight and see how that comes out.
I hope you do what Lacey tells you Nanny and keep that fire going with MORE wood lol :-D
I'm letting mine go out now .It got so warm in here what with the woodburner ,radiators and me at the oven I was nearly passing out with heatstroke :-S :-S.had to change into a short sleeved top.
I am just going to have a little tidy up now and then watch Channel 4 Steph and Dom (from Gogglebox) wit Nigel Farage at their posh B&B
So see you all in the morning xx

Hi All,

Hope everybody coping well with the Xmas preparations! I've been away for a few days at the new Woburn C*nter P*rcs. The water rides were amazing and I've come back home looking like a dried up prune with so many visits to the pool!

I'd been well up-to-date with my jobs before leaving, but was shocked to find the fridge not working on our return and then horror! Rat droppings under the sink!!!

We've spend the whole evening bleaching, disinfecting, spraying, and scrubbing, as you might imagine. I had the thought that the fridge cable may have been eaten by the rat which turned out to be correct. The fitted fridge took an age to dismantle, but no sign of a fried rat, he had made his escape.

We even returned to a robin flying around the upstairs, he must have entered as we packed our bags into the car as we left! He was very fortunate in that I had been making shortbread the morning of our departure, a piece had been left out by mistake which must have made a welcome meal. He was easily captured by oh and set free, he looked in good form ready to adorn the white Christmas! Must have been one of the pair I noticed on the back lawn last week. At the time, I thought it unusual to see two together.

I recently had the thought to order a death certificate for a sadly deceased relative. He was murdered when I was young, we were fairly protected from the events at the time. It was distressing to read that he had been stabbed through the heart, a fact that I had never known. I could weep for him to have lost his life in such circumstances and for the agony he must have endured. He had intervened in a fight, a really lovely boy.

Hoping for a less eventful day tomorrow..

Good morning all - and what a lovely morning it is too now that the frost has gone off the cars parked out in our Close. I've been taking photos of the sunrise and have just posted them on Facebook so I've been a busy little beaver.

Jane, ham eggs and chips brings back lovely memories for me. In the days of yore (single and 'between marriages' LOL) I used to take off for Cornwall to enjoy time with my late brother and his family at their caravan in Harlyn Bay, Cornwall. Along the way in the morning hours I would see signs at wayside hostelries announcing 'Ham and Eggs' and was often tempted to stop off and have a meal, but with the long journey I resisted. Many years later I can indulge whenever I want AND add some mushrooms into the mix.

Talking of ham and eggs - sometimes I'll make a sandwich or something for Carmel and as I put it on the table in front of her I'll say - "There you go, HAND CRAFTED" !!! Well, why not borrow some of today's over used word - like 'designer' for instance - what a rip off - everything has to be designed in the first place!!!

Jane and Ann, your Christmas cards are on their way to you, hope they arrive safe and sound.

Anyway, things to do - have a nice day all and maybe I'll check in later.

Morning all and evening Kim,

Rain in the air today grey skies and miserable.

Fiona your reall tree is a beautiful shape and looks a treat. The dining room one goes lovely with everything else in the room.

Have a ring to deliver this morning and will see how the shop is doing with theirs.

Nice to here the tales from William.

Lavender that must have been awful to come home and find rat droppings under the sink!!!!! :-0 It is not unusual to see two Robins together at this tim eof year as they are pairing up now. We have about four pairs around our garden. One comes in my shed each day and has a bowl of seed and a box of mealworms in there. She has to have some off my hand before she gets any in the bowl later on. when I am making the rings in there she knows and comes in with a flutter and looks at me as much as to say "where are they then?" and as soon as I put a few in the bowl she takes one and sits on the stable door to eat it. If they get under the seed she chucks that all overthe place to get to the worms.

We often have sausage mash and veg. Oh loves it with plenty of onions and onion gravy. Or toad in the hole.

How lovely to have a robin eat from your hand, Mel. We had lots of birds on the feeder before having dogs, it's the one regret! I need to get more organised to feed them further afield.

The rat man is arriving shortly. Thank goodness the cupboard door to the sink was shut. My m-in-law next door has always fed not only the birds but the ducks on the pond and the squirrels! We have never had a problem on the farm until this year. She is banned from doing so now as the rat man has been busy for the duration, but never had them in the house before, thank goodness.

It caused loads of work even though he had only entered the space briefly, but the cleaning still needed to be done! x

:-)

Morning/Evening All
Oh gawd Lavender ,not rats in the house :-0 :-0.I hope the Rat man can find where yours might have got in.We have had them in the garden before and had to get the man out.Next door had chickens then and i think the rats were going to and fro from the Chicken shed.We sometimes get one on the patio and then I get the blame for feeding the birds on the window feeder.
So you are on a Farm.Is it a working farm?(I think that is the right expression).

Sounds like a great time was had at the Centr* Parc.Is that a new one at Woburn?

Well this morning I am faced with yet another load of ironing :-S :-S.If I don't get started on it now the pile is going to get even bigger.

I think the best place for Ham and Eggs I have ever been is Yorkshire.OOh my mouth is watering now.

I'll be back later

Morning all Evening Kim.

That must have been a nightmare Lavender, thank goodness I have never had trouble with any vermin in the house, but they do (mice) love the shed and garage. They don't do any real harm, and need somewhere to nest.

Well, last night I decided not to stay and say "HALO". I know what Julia can be like, some rude comment, and I would have been down her throat. So I left at 5.00. Ros tried ringing me when they left, but the phone kept going to voicemail. She finally got the pubs Telephone Number from Tony, I walked home, but didn't want any dinner. Words were exchanged at home, and I said I will not change my mind, so live with it. All very quiet this morning also.

Very bright frosty morning here. The sun is out and so is a line of WHITES, I doubt there is much drying out there, but it will get an airing.

Glad the hogs are all settled for the winter Mel, mine is still feeding every night. His dish has to be refilled each morning. I thought he would have gone to "SLEEP" by now. I will have to leave two/three dishes of food around when we go away.

Jane I missed your post.

I think the new Cen#re Par# at Woburn opened earlier in the year. They were advertising for staff some time ago. It's somewhere I have never thought of going. but it's suppose to be a good place for the family.

Ham egg and chips is something I often have if we go for a pub lunch. I had it in the next village pub the other week. I asked for two eggs, which is the normal. I got FOUR as they were both double yokes. I ,must try to find out where she gets her eggs. I think I mentioned this some time ago.

When I had chickens we had RATS in the pen. I think they came from my neighbours shed. After I put down some poison, I found two in the waterfall of the pond. I think they went for a drink and drowned Had no sign of any since.

Slight breeze out there and the sun is on the washing, so will leave it as long as possible before bringing it in,. Then it can finish off in the conservatory on the airing thingy !!!

I think I will have a bowl of soup for lunch with a couple of slices.

Well, poor Carmel seems to be a target for other shoppers! We were having a look in a charity shop this morning and I heard Carmel cry out right next to me on my right. Some dozy woman with a four wheel shopping trolley had only crashed the trolley into Carmel's leg. She had thick tights on but even so there was blood coming through. The woman just said an unconvincing 'sorry' and carried on as if nothing had happened. I tried to staunch the blood best I could and even offered to take Carmel to see the nurse in our surgery. As it would have meant undressing on such a cold day she declined, and even the manageress of the shop offered to help.
This happens all the time, people bump into Carmel, knock her with things etc - you'd almost think she was invisible or had a target pinned to her back. I wouldn't mind but I'm always by her side and it never happens to me. Don't mention supermarket trolleys to me, a lot of folks are lethal with them. I think it should be on school curriculum's that there are lessons on 'how to shop'.

Since we've been home I've had to redress Carmel's leg as when she took her tights off, the bleeding started again. So she is now bandaged up complete with a liberal dose of Savl*n while she goes for her rest! I pull our shopping trolley (2 wheels) most of the time but I've never managed to harm anyone yet.

Moan over, I'm off to do something constructive - like having a lie down :-) TTFN

Oh poor Carmel.I hope there is no long term damage to her leg William.Is it very thin skin she has? I know my Mum had that trouble and she always bled badly after even the slightest knock on her legs.Trolleys are a nightmare :-S.Especially if someone catches the back of your heel with a supermarket one.AGONY !!!
Some folk should never be in charge of one.

Just had a phone call to say the next wardrobe (for James's room ) will be here between 6 and 9 tomorrow evening !!!!.Then the men will have to put it together.If they don't get here until 9 it will be at least 10 before they finish.So I won't be getting ready for bed early tomorrow :-|

Frank I thought I had seen something about the Centr* Par* at Woburn recently ,that's why I asked if it was a new one.Not that far from us is it.
Chris has been back to work today to take all the girls some goodies for Christmas.They do like to see him.But he says he is so glad he has retired now.I think he was the one who kept things running smoothly .It seems to have all gone a bit pot since he left.I don't think the others are prepared to go the extra mile these days.And that is such a shame as it used to be a darned good surgery.It bugs Chris I know ,but as I keep telling him it is not his problem any more.

Cor ! it has got nippy outside now.No fire tonight for us as we forgot to bring more logs in :-S
Meatballs and Spaghetti for us tonight.A nice quick and easy meal :-D....I quite fancy Ham ,eggs and chips really :-D :-D