General Chat

Back again. We had our visitors this morning, Dorothy, Sarah and little Grace. Of course Grace was the centre of attraction and she is so full of Christmas, she kept us all amused. In our front lounge we have a little village scene which has a working waterfall and also Christmas songs (music box like) which are activated by a sensor. Of course, Grace couldn't make out where the music was coming from or why it kept starting every time she walked across the room. I told her it was 'magic music' and she was convinced that it was coming from a figure of 'The Snowman'. She had a fine old time and we were delighted to see her again.

Well our meal this evening will certainly be simple - fish fingers and chips. Oh well it's what we both decided and it will help with the build up to the big dinner at Dorothy's on Christmas afternoon. My late brother always looked forward to Boxing Day, when my sister in law would make bubble and squeak with the left overs. I'm sure he enjoyed that more than his Christmas dinner! (I shall probably tell you this tale every Christmas :-) )

Carmel has had her appointment come through for the Low Vision Clinic' at Uni hospital following all her eye problems. It's for January 7th so it hasn't taking as long as we were expecting. Be interesting to find out what will go on there.

I went for a haircut yesterday before I started to look like the mad professor. Actually, I hate getting my hair cut, even though there isn't much of it these days. I rather tactfully call it 'stocktaking' rather than an haircut! I don't know why this is and I always say I'd rather pay a visit to the dentist than go and get a haircut. Dentists have never bother me as I have happy memories of being very young and my Dad taking me to the dentists with a promise of a visit to Cook's Eel Pie Shop on Stratford Broadway.

I got Maureen's Christmas card today - thank you very much, I am delighted that we are now the proud owners of one of your pieces of 'original' artwork, while I cheat by sending out prints of mine. It has pride of place now in our front lounge.


Okay, that's me done for now. TTFN

Thanks William for you card which arrived this morning.We do have talented folk on here don't we :-D.It 's lovely thank you.

Gill I must missed your post the other day saying my card had arrived.I think it must have been when my sister was here and I was way behind on all the postings.

I'm glad Rosie escaped the cat and has returned again safely .It's a good job Fitz's cat Podge doesn't live near you.Lat week Podge had managed to get through the cat flap with 2 squirrels,a pheasant and 2 rats !!!!!!.I would love to see how he does it.But then he drags them upstairs on the landing where he starts eating them :-S :-S :-S.
Yuk it makes me shiver thinking of the mess and having to clear up.I know if I ever am in charge of feeding Podge if he is on his own I dread walking in and wondering what I might find.I have never known a hunter like him.To look at him Butter wouldn't melt LOL

Well I have wrapped more pressies this afternoon and got another load of washing done.I din't hang anything out though as most of it was towels and i don't think they would have dried.So it was the good old Tumble dryer .
I must get James's dinner in as he will be in very soon and is going out at 6.30 .

Madam went out to the hairdressers at 1.30 pm still no sign of her return. All the outside light on and the Christmas tree lights, to welcome her home.

Stir fry tonight with turkey, It won't take long to do so that's a good thing.

I still haven't received Maureen's card. Has she forgotten me ??? or could it be one of those addressed to me, that have been confiscated until the 22nd. ???

Out again tonight to the pub for the football, Tony will pick me up so no walking.

Didn't go for a walk today. Got stuck into my book then had forty winks. ;-) ;-) ;-)

I have to get all my ingredients ready for doing my Honey Roasted Gammon. Not sure if C & J will have the bits I need, so will take them with me. I am also going to make some Paul Hollywood's Mince pies. With Tangerines and Apple in with the Mince meat. They looked good on the T.V. They are cooked in MUFFIN TINS. I hope we have some in the cupboard. If not I won't make them :-P :-P :-P :-P They will have to make do with Tesc#'s finest instead.

I take it the furniture is all in situ now Jane, and James has got his cloths sorted !!!

Will, I loved Tubby Isaacs stall down Aldgate, Jellied ells. There was also a smashing Pie and Ell shop in Aldgate where I often spent my 2/6d luncheon vouchers. Takes you back a bit, doesn't it ???
Hope Carmel's leg is feeling better, after the accident. If these trolley ladies get to close to me I say" mind where you go with that" and they steer round me.!!! Not that I go shopping very often.

Mel, is that the main shop done now ???

Frank we are waiting for the men with wardrobe.We have been told they will be here between 6 and 9 this evening !!!!!.Bit late really.We must be the last drop off of the day and then they will put it together for us.Chris decided to pay the extra for them to do it.I don't think he could face putting together yet another big wardrobe.Can't say I blame him.
I'm not sure what to do about our dinner.I think I will just get on and cook it and then if they turn up before we eat it will have to just stay warm in the top oven.

Tomorrow we are going to Cambridge for the day and having lunch at the Jami* Olive* restaurant.Haven't been to that one before. must have a look on line and see what the menu is.Chris will be getting a ribbon to go around the Christmas cake that he iced this afternoon.Clever old stick.(he forgot to put Apricot jam around the sides ) so hopefully the icing won't come off :-S :-S

Frank I hope the weather will be nice enough for you to promenade up and down the sea front in Torquay :-D.You will cut a dashing figure I'm sure ;-) ;-)

Oh yikes Chris has just told me he wants to set off about 8.30 in the morning !..That is early for me.But I know we need to as it is going to be busy and we do the Park and Ride at Trumpington.There are often queues of people there .At least the buses are about every 10 minutes and we get dropped off right outside Joh* Lewi* :-D.That is the first port of call for a coffee and a croissant :-D

Just heard the men will be here in 20 minutes :-D.I'll put dinner on hold now for a while

Hope they get the wardrobe up for you quickly now Jane. They should know exactly how they go together at least. So you could'nt have been the last delivery.

Don't know what to get for dinner tonight as I still feel full from all the chicken tikka and wraps with salad and pasta salad at late lunch and I did'nt have any cake at cuppa time later but oh made up for that by eating a huge piece of choc swiss roll, a piece of walnut cake and an iced mince pie plus a couple of bourbon biscuits. I really don't know where he puts it all but it does show out front!!!!! Ha ha ha :-D :-D

Frank, Tubby Isaacs, that takes me back to Sunday visits to Petticoat Lane with my Dad. I also knew Aldgate well, as our buses from Chadwell Heath terminated there if we bused it into London. Also, it wasn't far from where I worked in Lloyds avenue, off Fenchurch Street. I didn't get the 2/6 luncheons vouchers in the small office I worked in, but after I while I started eating in Yeomansons and a regular I lunched with worked in one of the shipping lines and had vouchers to spare, so it cost me very little for a lunch. Happy days. -)

Our fish fingers and chips turned into fish fingers and mash, so what - as my Dad used to say, it all goes down the same hole!!! I was just dishing up when my mobile went and it was my son Kevin in South London. Our granddaughter , Carla 9, has had to have a serious knee operation today and will be in a leg brace for the next six weeks and then it will be a case of seeing how it has turned out. They were due to fly out to Spain this morning for the holiday so that's been put on the back burner. Kevin's wife, Lola is Spanish and they have a little bolt hole over there near her folks that they go off to when they can. This will be the first Christmas the children have spent in London or England for that matter. You never know what you're going to hear next do you?

Watch this space for more exciting installments :-)

It's all go upstairs Mel.I don't think they will be too long.Not sure what language they are speaking.Indian I think. They have a nice glass of cold cordial each.I think it is thirsty work.
Crumbs thats a lot of cake and bics OH got down :-0.I would feel sick after that lot lol
We have breaded Haddock ,Cauliflower Cheese,Boulangerie Potatoes ,Broccoli and carrots .Probably around 8.30.
I'm having a nice G&T now :-D.I might just have another one in a minute :-D :-D

Jane I thought James was having the 3rd wardrobe that wouldn't fit in your bedroom.....has he got 2 wardrobes now then? :-) While we were out today OH commented on all the courier vans on the road delivering parcels. His replacement shoes have arrived.......just needs to try them now! He was going to a match tonight, but it's the second one this week that's cancelled because the pitch is waterlogged. There's water lying in some of the fields round here already as well, so at this rate it could be worse than last year if we get lots more rain!! :-0

Ann, James was having the big chest of drawers that we couldn't fit in our bedroom.We bought the wardrobe to match.
It's all done now and Chris has somehow managed to get the drawers in without my help.
I have been up with the hoover to get rid of all the little bits of polystyrene which covered the whole carpet.I also opened the big window as there was a big problem with a cheesy feet smell. :-S :-S.The men took their shoes off at the bottom of the stairs,which is good.BUT my goodness the pong :-S :-S.Mind you I suppose after a 12 hour shift they must have had very hot feet.

Talking of feet .I hope your OH's shoes fit :-D :-D

I think dinner won't be too long now.I hope not as I am hungry .Trouble when dinner is too late you are almost past feeling like eating.I just need to heat the CHEESE sauce now :-D
Gill I hope your headache is better.Those kind of headaches you just can't shift are horrible.

Just got your lovely snowy Ecard Ann...Beautitul :-D :-D

Oh Jane.......did you say your drawers won't fit!! lol. :-D All this talk of chest and drawers will turn Frank's head!! Sorry, I'm in a silly mood, yes I quite understand now!! James's room must look smart now as well.....even if not to his taste. The furniture will be staying longer than him I expect. Those little polystyrene bits are a devil to get up, stick to everything don't they. By the way I meant to ask whether the new bed is nice and comfy to sleep in?

Yes we hav'nt had a report on the new bed.

I think I may be getting oh's cold as I have been coughing a lot and sneezing too. I thought I had given him one that I had a couple of weeks ago.

Gill hope the head is better after a good nights sleep. It is probably tension with all the things you have been doing lately and Sandra being ill too. Or maybe stress getting those covers off today. Do they come off easily? or not?

Been trying to find one more child on my family tree for my aunt Joy. The 1911 census says they had 10 children, 7 living and three that died and I have found two but just can't find the third.

The bed is wonderful :-D.No hip ,shoulder,back aches so far.But some of that might be to do with that expensive pillow.Once in bed it is straight to sleep :-D.Chris is gone in minutes(thank goodness ;-) )
Mel I hope you aren't getting OH's cold.Have a couple of paracetamols before you go to bed.

James is just home and has gone to have a look at his room.It is a shame we haven't decorated in there as it is in real bad need of a major spruce up.But it will just have to wait (probably when James leaves home ) if that ever happens !!!

I am off now .As we have an early start in the morning I won't be around until we get back from Cambridge.
Night Night x

Dear All

Hello

I am sorry I have not replied sooner.

Thank you very much for the warm and kind welcome.

It means a lot.


Hope you are all doing well. <3


Take gentle care
With best wishes
Elizabeth,
xx

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo thanks for the ecard Ann it is smashing :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

Hi Elizabethofseasons

Your very welcome whenever you wish to join in and post something, anything...

So nice to hear from you again.

What have you been up to lately? anything interesting please?

Dear Mel FairyGodmother

Hello

Its been a mixture of work, shopping and trying to avoid cooking!

My terrible cooking has been given legendary status.

I have also found some new leads with the research and the printer worked overtime to get copies.

I really must organise my filing......groan!


Take gentle care
Best wishes
Elizabeth,
xx

I can't remember where you are from Elizabeth!!

Is there anything I could help you with?

Just a quick good morning (is it?) to one and all and a welcome to Elizabeth from myself too. I hope you'll feel at home here, as I've found out over a long time, it's a very friendly place to be.

My first thoughts this morning are for my dear old Dad who passed away on this day. He reached the grand old age of 94 and had had a good life. We had a small family funeral for him and he was cremated at South Essex Crem , it was the last one to take place before Christmas that year and on the way to the crem, all the Christmas lights were blazing on and in all the houses along the way. We all felt he would have been well chuffed to have such a send off.

Hopefully, I'll be back later on. Have a good day all. TTFN