General Chat

Morning to you all, evening Kim,

Well you have been chatty again.

Elizabeth where are you in the East End. I knew it very well, as my dad came from Bethnal Green and Mum for Canning Town. I have always been a West Ham supporter. My first match was with my brother in 1945/6 So that's almost 70 years ago.
I lived in Woodford Bridge, William in Stratford then Romford way and Mel in Redbridge, Ilford. and had relatives in Woodford Bridge. (SMALL WORLD) but she was only a youngster then :-D :-D :-D :-D

Jane, Glad you stayed away from the punts. It was a bit windy for that. I can never understand you WOMEN buying cloths in another town, and having to take them back locally. Ros does it all the time. when will you learn ??? <3 <3 <3

Ann that wire work looks very good and painful to do, I can imagine your thumbs and fingers would be sore, after all that twisting. Hope your little Christmas tree is still there today. You should have grabbed it when you were there !!!

We have a clear blue sky this morning with a slight breeze. I have been out in a short sleeved shirt, and it's not cold.

We are starting to get packed, but not knowing when we will be back, it's difficult to know what and how much to take. Plus we have so many presents to transport, all ours, as we gave Conrad theirs last week.

Hope you all have a good day, and don't get into any trouble. !!!!

WE don't get in trouble Frank that is only YOU...... ;-) ;-) ;-)

I bought some nice tinsel yesterday it is red and green with a white fleck on the ends of the green and has bunches of berries with three leaves behind them on it.

I meant to say are you taking your pooter with you Frank?

Oh yes Mel, How could I let you lot not have me keeping my beady eyes on you ;-) ;-) ;-) You will only get into trouble without UNCLE Frank <3 <3

We have had Green Thnum# here this morning doing a winter treatment on the lawns. Just a fertilizer I believe, but will green it up for Spring.

Ros has gone to have her nails done. The girl who does them is Chinese, and will put a little Christmas tree on her nails for next week. In fact she will do anything . The girl runs a small shop on the outskirts of Northampton.

I am going to get Tracy the daughter of next door to feed the hedgehog while I am away. She is 50 and has Special Needs, but I am sure she will love to pop round and put his food down each day. I will give her the food and leave the back gate open for her to get in.

Madam cooked a load more sausage rolls this morning, AND FORGOT THEM. When I went in the kitchen, I said "Are you cooking anything" and went to the oven. They were quite burnt, so went out for the birds. !!
Not cooking tonight, I have told Ros to bring something in from Tesc# tomorrow night will be akeaway, So that's me finished cooking till the NEW YEAR. Conrad does all the cooking, when he's home. I will help if he needs me too.

Well, I'm now intrigued to know where Elizabeth is in the East End as I of course have many connections to it. Mum was born in Bethnal Green, lived in Palistow, I had relatives who lived first in Plaistow, then East Ham and finally they ended up at Custom House near the docks (Call the Midwife territory). I often did the trip by bus via Stratford, Bow, Stepney, Mile End, Whitechapel etc etc. Like Frank I can still see it as it was at that time quite clearly. I was always fascinated when my Dad told me tales about the siege of Sidney Street.

We've been to Nuneaton today on a shopping expedition and am both cheese and crackered. We got some things we went for, 'didn't get other things we went for and also got things that we didn't know we were going to get. Sounds like any normal shopping trip eh?

Frank, I'm not a great fish fingers lover but with Carmel's eating problems sometimes they are a good choice. We also had baked beans and we have had good reports from them :-)

Things to do - will look in later when I'm 'dodging the soaps' as I know Frank will be.

Well here am at last.I seem to have caught the shopping bug off Ros !!!.I took all the clothes back that I bought yesterday and have now bought some other things.I do believe that they all fit nicely .One pair of trousers/jeggings has a high waist which is great as it holds that horrible roll in :-D.I just hope it doesn't push it out elsewhere :-S
This afternoon has been spent wrapping more presents again.I just put all the paper etc away and have now spotted two more presents down beside the chair unwrapped.But they can wait now until tomorrow.One job I must get done is to dust out my glass cabinet with all the glasses in and give the glasses a good wash.(the once a year wash).Our everyday glasses are kept in another cupboard.The floor in the front porch is so dirty so that will have to have a good scrub.I haven't bothered with it as with everyone tripping in and out with furniture and James taking all his stuff out to the skip it just hasn't been worth doing.I am quite ashamed of the state of it :-S :-S

Frank, you won't know what to do with yourself with now cooking to do until New Year.
What a good idea to ask your neighbours daughter to look after your prickly friend while you are away.I bet she will really enjoy doing that for you.
I bought tons of bird food today.6 packs of Berry flavoured suet pellets,a big bag of Black Sunflower Seeds and a big bag of Peanuts.They better make it last until after Christmas otherwise I will be putting them on rations.

Mel I hope all the rings have sold.How many did you make in the end?

Mmm Fish Fingers.Now I haven't had them in a long while.William am I thinking the 'good reports' from the beans are of the 'noisy kind' ;-)..Good old beans eh! :-D

Chris has been preparing dough in the bread maker this afternoon to make Granary Rolls.Good job I don't need the main oven tonight as he will be taking it over.I just need the hob to heat up a Chicken dish that I took out of the freezer.Its a bit like the Normandy Pork I do .I just need to add the Creme Fraiche and mustard at the end.Then I'll do rice and Broccoli.There are plenty of mushrooms and carrots in the dish so that will be fine for veg.

Where did the Kray Twins live in London? Was that the East End? My Birth mother used to mix with that lot and Barbara Windsor and her husband(the gangster) I forget his name.Oh how I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall of some of the places then !!!!!!!

Ronnie Knight Jane, The Kray's were from around Mile End. I have had a few beers in the "BLIND BEGGER" That was the pub they used on the Mile End Road

Ros went to have the car cleaned on the way home. There was a quite a lot of cars waiting, so she got out to go to the shop to buy some screen wash. She tripped over the kerb and went flying, Her glass's went one way, and she went the other. She has grazed her knee, hurt her thigh and her BOOB. So must have gone down quite heavy.

She has bought back Lamb Shanks, roasting vegetables , and cream potato's All in the oven. Be ready just after 6.00 pm.

William (Will) My aunt lived in East Ham my Uncle in Dock Land. I use to catch a bus from Woodford Bridge (No.10) that would take me through Wanstead, Leytonstone, Mile end Road, to Aldgate. I would then walk up Leadenhall Street to work . I only did that on occasions when I had plenty of time All other times it was the "RATTLER" from South Woodford to Liverpool Street. . When I first came out of the R.A.F. I cycled both ways 5 days a week, and sometimes 6 if I was on the Saturday rota. They were the days when I was YOUNG AND FIT.. So there goes the saying. That you never forget how to ride a bike !!! I wouldn't be able to get my leg over now ;-) ;-) ;-) :-D :-D :-D I did try a few years ago and fell A over T and banged my head in Conrad's gar!!!age., I couldn't get up till they came and found me.

Evening all,

Not so mild today but we have had a little sun and the wind has dropped a little too.

Even if you didn't get to eat the sausage rolls i bet the birds enjoyed their burnt offerings Frank :-D
I'd like to see Ros's nails ,i noticed one of the ladies n the till in T*sco's has her nails painted up , they were all given christmas hats to wear she said she keeps her on when she goes home and the next day they give her another one !!

Plenty of wind where you are then William ;-) ;-) :-D :-D

I have bought some really pretty glittery wrapping paper from Te*co's ,but the glitter goes every where ,you should have seen the table when i had finished wrapping ,i had to get the hoover out to suck it all up.

Well hubby and son have finished work now till after the new year ,so i might get a lot of my jobs done now ,i have a list !! :-D :-D

I like fish fingers but they do have to be the Cod ones ,haven't had them for a long while though.

Oh just seen your post Frank, hope Ros is ok , shakes you up when you trip like that ,she'll be sore tomorrow , will she be ok to drive? ,it is tomorrow you go isn't it ?

Oh no! Poor Ros.That will have shaken her up Frank.She might ache badly tomorrow with a few bruises coming out :-( :-(..I hope there was someone there to help her.

I have just told Chris he needs to get the hoover out as there is flour all over the kitchen floor....He has made rolls :-D....Very nice they are too :-D.He has wrapped all his pressies and split logs today so has been a very busy boy :-D
Now no-one is ready for dinner as a few of those rolls have gone :-S.I didn't have one.
So I am thinking now it is going to be at least another hour before we eat.

Gill is Sandra all clear now from her horrible sore throat and cold? I bet she is really looking forward to Christmas.Has your OH got Christmas off ?
I remember when my Mum was in her Care Home the staff threw a great Christmas party for all the residents and families.My Sister and I travelled down to Plymouth for the 'do'.All the staff were dressed up in Christmas fancy dress ,there was a fantastic buffet for all, and the Owner of the home came and dished out small presents for all the residents and staff.The residents all enjoyed their tipples of sherry or wine and it was a very happy evening :-D..The only sad thing was that when my Sister and I said goodbye to everyone my dear Mum thought we were going to take her home :-(

O dear poor Ros I hope she did'nt spoil her nails too. It gives you a nasty shock when you fall like that. Hope she dos'nt ache too much tomorrow.

The wind had dropped here today too Mandy but not around William's by the sounds of it!! ;-) ;-) ;-)

Been to Holsworthy this afternoon and got my new handbag from oh and bought a nice bunch of misletoe. I have to have that every year..............even though I have an artificial bunch.

My rings don't seem to be going very quickly this year. I have taken down 8 and today when I looked on the way back from shopping there werer 5 still on the windowsill of the shop. I only made 9 this yar and the advent ring for the church.

Making sheep sh*t pie tonight and enough pots for bubble and squeak for tomorrow with some pork chops.

My grandad was born in Hackney and my nan on the other side of my family lived for a while in East Ham. I lived in Ilford when I was first married. I also used to go up to London when the secretary was on holiday to the PDSA headquarters. Did that a couple of times. Bought a pair of sling backs in Regents St with my whole wages £3.19s and 6d.

Evening All,

Oh I feel for Ros after that tumble Frank, it gives you such a shock when that happens. I bet she will be sore and bruised now.

Well I went back for that little tree........and changed my mind!! ( say nothing Frank.....I'm a WOMAN!! :-) lol) We went back this morning and I tested folding one of the little branches and the way they are held is decidedly flimsy and wouldn't last many bendings at all!! BUT I found another type at another garden centre and have decided I will go and get that tomorrow. I did get a few icicles though, but will make some as well. By 3.00pm the traffic was solid from the retail park on the main road. What will it be like next week! :-0 I think I will get my Christmas perishables from the farm shop instead of the supermarket. We had a job to get through the village this morning as the traffic was all jammed back. It turned out to be the senior college pupils crossing the road to go to a carol service at the church, there must have been hundreds of them. We both said that we never used to do that when we were at school. My school did attend the Cathedral once a year but it was for our Founder's Day Service. They'll be burying Richard 111 there.

Yes that sounds like my sort of shopping trip William! Is Carmel's leg healing ok now? Did you see there was a substation explosion at Hinckley yesterday? We saw the plume of black smoke from it as we drove home from MIL's. It was on the road where the football ground used to be.

Good idea to let the neighbour's daughter look after your hog while you are away.......I bet she will love that little job! I bet it will be hard for you to resist poking your head in the kitchen while the cooking is happening while you are away!! lol. :-D Thanks for letting us know how Shirl is.....it was bad enough having injections in one eye let alone two.

Mel, your new hat and coat sound very smart, my sort of colours too! Good you found a handbag today.The wire I used for the candleholder was 0.5mm (can't remember what that is in guage). If I did another big one I would use thicker wire, (maybe 0.8mm)even though it would be a bit harder to twist, so it would hold more rigid. The 0.5mm wire was to do little tealight holders really with shorter wires so it was strong enough for those. I'm doing a similar cover for a lavender candle in a small clear glass for the bedroom next, maybe in spring flower colours?

Jane you soon got swapped and sorted with your clothes today. I think it's fatal to make cakes or bread before your main meal........things always have to be tested and there goes your appetite then! I've done it so many times in the past!

That's good your menfolk have finished for Christmas Mandy......don't lose that list will you!! You'll need it after Christmas. :-)

Text Santa on, and it's a bit loud for me, so I thought I would say halo.

Ros has some nice bruises coming on her thigh and shin. I think she will be sore tomorrow. I hope she will be alright to drive on SUNDAY. It's her left leg, so with the Automatic gearbox it won't be too bad. If Conrad knows, he will insist on coming up to collect us and bring us back whenever. So I think "MUMS" the word.

I see on the news that the roads are chock a block with people going away already When I worked I didn't get away until 4.00 pm on Christmas Eve. My old boss was a right old Tight Ar##, and wouldn't give you anytime off. The new boss was a family man and we always went to the pub at midday. I would leave my car at the garage and Ros would pick me up.

Fresh bread from the oven. WHO can resist that. When I do get the bread maker out the loaf is gone within a couple of hours. Thick butter and Strawberry jam. Oh so lovely.

So you still haven't got a small tree then Ann, by the time you make up your mind Christmas will be OVER :-D :-D :-D ;-) ;-) ;-)

Mel, you are doing well this Christmas aren't you ??? New coat, hat and handbag as well as your pooter !!!

Mandy, don't hold you breath about getting your jobs done, You know what they say "COBBLERS ARE THE WORST SHOD"

Going to catch a bit of SANTA. See you in the morning.

Where's Gill today. ??

I think I have oh's cold as I can feel a bit of a funny throat, am a bit blocked up and i'm cold........

Yes where is our Gill today. Hope Sandra is ok.

Night night all.

Hi all

I've not been able to get online recently as my laptop wouldn't work, so I've had to get it fixed, still not sure what the problem was :-S :-S.

Sorry to hear Ros had a fall Frank, I hope she's not to badly hurt <3. Let her know Sandra and I wish her a speedy recovery.

Yes Jane Sandra is feeling much better now and is looking forward to Christmas. Her cousin and his family are going to be at my mum's on Boxing day so Sandra is looking forward to seeing him again. He lives in Wales so we hardly see him as he works full time and doesn't get much time to visit his gran (my mum)

Thanks Ann for the ecard. The picture of your candleholder, is really lovely. It must of taken you ages to do, you're very clever, I can see how it can make your fingers sore. Hope they're better now.

Did you get the Christmas and birthday cards I sent you Frank

How is Carmel doing Will, is her leg any better. Sandra and I wish her a speedy recovery too <3.

Been watching "Text Santa" with Sandra, going to watch the end of it now
Night all

Morning all and evening Kim,

Dull this morning but dry and there's a bit of a wind.

Throat is roar today so I think I definately have oh's cold and it's going to be a stinker.

This is something I did'nt really want just before Chirstmas.

How is ros this morning Frank? Not too sore I hope please give her my regards.

William we need an update on Carmel's cut leg. Hoping that is is now healing nicely.

Forgot to say our oil turned up about 8.20am and he had come in the big lorry so could'nt get through the arch. So now we don't know when it will arrive.

Morning All

You're not having much luck Mel, I hope you're not ill for Christmas and that your cold has gone by then.

What do you mean the lorry couldn't get through the arch, sorry not sure what you mean Mel. Let's hope you get your oil soon.

It's really windy here but so far no rain ;-).

Hope the roads aren't to busy Frank when you go away. Have a lovely time <3

Gill I live in a victorian walled garden so you have to come through an archway in the wall. We had it made taller and wider because a fire engine could'nt get in but the lorry drivers don't like coming through in the usual sized lorries so we have to have a small tanker.