General Chat

A stew sounds nice Frank. May go down the freezer myself for some steak and kidney and do a S and K stew.

Yes Mel. I have stood and chopped up. Carrots, onions, parsnips, Swede, turnip. added Tomato puree. Tin of Oxtail and Tomato soup. A good squirt of Bovri# and mixed the Bist# and OX# All simmering away nicely. I have made a DOZEN doughboys to add just before we are ready for it tonight. It smells lovely. Hope you find your S & K. I like that in a pudding or pie.

Have feed and watered the birds. No sign of the hog since we got back. Still a bit of food in his dish, in case he pops out for a snack. Mel, would it be alright to take the lid off his box to see if he is in residence ??? I don't like to disturb him if he is asleep.

Apart from Fiona you and me. I think everybody is either busy with Housework or out at the SALES. !!! as if they would :-D :-D

I suppose you could take the lid off and have a peep. You may not see it if it has loads of bedding over it. Just gentley lift some to see if you have a hog in there.

I am not feeding mine anymore as the food in the ark, where no cats can get at it, was still there three days running. The mice ate the dried food so I only fed the tinned whiskers chicken in jelly. I don't think you need to feed now since the weather has gotten colder. I had to keep feeding mine as they were so small when we found them and only a little while before the colder weather.

Forgot to say I found the steak and kid and a pack of skirt so the lots going in a stew.

Do you find if you add the bisto at the begining of cooking the stew sticks? Mine does so I add it just before or after putting the dough boys in. I have stainless steel sausepans.

Afternoon Everyone.
I think it is blooming cold today.I only nipped out to feed the birds and that was enough.I haven't been outside again since.
I slept well too last night.I wonder if it was the full moon a couple of nights ago that had us sleeping badly.

James and Jess have arrived in Reykjavik to 60 miles an hour wind and rain.They are having a nap now and then maybe nip out some some essentials (they are in self catering apartment).I did get them to take a toilet roll with them just in case there wasn't any there when they arrived :-D..You never can be sure.

When I do a casserole/stew.I always use 2 Ox* cubes(chicken if it's chicken etc) and then about half an hour before it is cooked I will add Beef flavoured Bist* granules to thicken it up nicely :-D.I use the Bist* in the glass jars.

Frank I am having Cauliflower Cheese tonight :-D :-D,with some fish new potatoes and lots of other veg.

I'm going to do some more puzzle now !!!!

Yes where is Gill.Hope no-one is poorly.

I thought the equipment would be expensive Ann, I suppose it would be worth forking out if you made things to sell. I particularly liked the wall art.

Talking of selling my son said the same thing Frank, I should sell some paintings but I don't think they are good enough, he did sell a little box canvas painting I did at the boot sale for £5 ages ago and I guess if people didn't like them they wouldn't buy them anyway.

Thanks for the e.mail on London's secrets, it was really interesting.

That moon was enormous last night Mel, if it had been a balloon it would have popped.

If I'm doing a puzzle Jane I don't like anyone else putting pieces in, it's bad enough not knowing if you've put a piece in the right place without someone else doing it too :-P

That's the ironing done for another week, it soon rolls round though, in the past 25 plus years I have only 'caught' a couple of things, so not bad, I find the irons much better now.

Hi all

Been so busy these last few days, it took me all day to take the Christmas decorations down, it's so bare now, but I suppose I'll get used to it.

I've cleaned the whole place it looks better now. I had a snow tree so you can imagine all the mess that made when I took it down to put back in the box.

Glad to hear your daughter got to the hospital alright Will. Hope things are starting to improve for her now.

I've spent most of today checking my emails, I had quite a few, I like Conrad's place Frank. I can see how you struggled up those stairs.

Hope your car is ok now Mel with no more funny lights appearing on the dashboard, that must of been quite scary.

No more tin foil Jane, now you have your new glass for your cooker, everything is back to normal for you.

Everyone seem to be getting new things this year, what with front doors and microwaves, I must be the only one who hasn't been to any sales.

OH has signed his new contract at work for the extra hours although there weren't as many hours as he had hoped for, but yesterday while he was in work one of the nurses let slip that his hours may go up again and by quite a few this time, so fingers crossed for him.

At the moment he's only on a part time contract and has been asking for ages for a full time contract, so hopefully he'll get his wish. He works full time hours as there is plenty of overtime, so is at work all day most days, but he would feel better if they were contracted, as he can't always rely on overtime.

Needless to say because of this new contract and possible further one, he has now changed his mind on moving. I am disappointed, but pleased for him too. So I guess we'll be staying here for the time being.

Sandra is still watching her programs in the other room, so I think I'll go back to checking the rest of my emails while it's quiet.

Frank , could not resist it, after coffee went to the bank then went in to BHS & M&S to look at the sales, I got a plum corded skirt & pair of gray pull on Jeggings, :-D :-D :-D

Gill,I suppose a positive is that you haven't sold your home and then changed minds about moving !!.That might have been a difficult one.Will you take yours off the market now or move somewhere else nearby?That is great for OH though to get more hours at work. :-D

I thought I had dusted everything after taking down the dec.But sitting here i can see thick layer on the corner table by the fire :-S..No doubt there are other bits I have missed lol.
This puzzle is driving me barmy :-S.I think there is just about over half done so far.I feel like I am going cross eyed so m giving it a rest for now.Hopefully Chris will have a go when he comes in fro the summerhouse.He has been out there painting all afternoon.I still haven't persuaded him to frame any of his paintings yet.Like you Maureen he thinks he isn't good enough.But you are both brilliant :-D

Fiona ,I bet you were pleased you braved the wind and rain today New clothes :-D :-D
There are so few shops where I am for clothes.It really needs a trip to one of the big towns .There is going be a massive development not too far away at Rushden .So once that is completed I will be going to have a look there.Hopefully there will be some decent shops.it will only be about a 15minute drive too :-D

I must remember I have a haircut tomorrow afternoon..The problem is not knowing what darned day it is !!!!!!!!..Since Chris retired it seems like every day is the same as I don't need to keep looking at the calendar so see what his duties are or what meetings he might have.Must remember too it is 2015 now and not 2014 LOL

What a dreadful thing has happened in Paris today..All those people killed :-( :-(.Just by 2 terrorists.They escaped too !!!!!!.I hope that they have managed to get them by now.It just looked like all hell had been let loose :-( :-(

The wind is certainly picking up here now :-S

Been windy with a cold wind here today and NO sun at all.

I have been busy with the hoover but then the phone rang and it was the oil place. Keith had ordered again from the one with no small tanker so they rang me. I then rang Butlers who I know have a tiny tanker and they told me their price was 38.15 a litre including VAT so I ordered 1000 litres from them. Then I had an email from Keith to say he had got it for 34. something before VAT so I am not too far away from the price I would have got with him.

Gill it sounds like you are all spick and span now after Christmas and up to date with all your housework. You clever girl. I look at my housework and think to myself, it will still be there tomorrow...........
So pleased your hubby will be getting more hours at work so more money which is never a bad thing.

Ann the glass infusions looked good. Shame the kilns are so expensive. Did'nt you do some of that a while ago?? We never did see the result.

Jane now you know what it's like for oh and I about never knowing what day it is. I think with Christmas Day falling on a Thursday it threw everything out anyway.

RFrank I woud'nt like to have to clean that chandalier in Conrads place and I see what you mean about the stairs. It all looks so nice though.

Stews bubbling away here and smelling good. I shall add some butterbeans and boiled pearl barley later. It is just in swede carrots and onions with two oxo cubes at the mo.

Evening all,

It's been a cold day here but we did see the sun for a while , i just let Toby out and the wind chimes were swinging well so the wind has got up here too.

We had roast beef tonight .
I add an oxo or two to my stews and then thicken at the end of cooking when the meat is nice and tender with good old Bi*to the one in the box .
I always think the stew tastes better the next day , i remember my dad finishing the gravy off from the stew he would have it poured over a nice big wedge of bread.

Well i hope the weather improves for James and Jess , only a mum would think of telling them to take a toilet roll with them :-D good thinking Jane :-D i've taken one with me too.

Sounds as if that puzzle is right a puzzle Jane :-S :-D have you ever done a double sided one ? we always used to have a puzzle on the go this time of year ,but with the children coming it's a bit awkward as we need to use the table, hubby did get me a big board to use and i suppose i could push it under the sofa when the children come ,if only i could find it , i bet he's chopped it up for sticks !!

Gill, it's good your hubby has been given more hours at work,that means a little extra money to put away for if you do decide to move , at least you hadn't found a place to move too.
Plus you can hunt in the loft for your camera now :-D

We always go to Norwich if we need clothes ,very few clothes shops here in town , since just before christmas we've lost a Jewellers ,a leather shop, a curtain /blind making shop and a camera shop all gone and i see today that J*hnsons Dry cleaners are closing lots of their shops and we have one in town so that will be another empty shop !!

Mel , have the oil prices gone down like the petrol prices ?
We noticed yesterday the Petrol was down to £1-07 a litre and Diesel was£1-14 a litre

All blown out now, the dumplings just floated to the top, and when dished up were a little heavy (Ros's words) I managed a big bowl full with 3 dumplings. The great thing is that there was only to bowls to wash up and the slatted spoon and ladle.

Ros is at "Stitchery Do" tomorrow, she is thinking of taking a flask of stew with her.

I see Midsummer is on tonight. Is it a new series ?? as I am normally out on Wednesday evenings. watch football, but none on tonight, and the way the weather is looking, I am better off in the warm.

I always put the bist# and ox# in at the beginning, provided you keep giving it a stir, I have never had any trouble.

Madam has started knitting a shawl for Jan's daughter KERRY who is having the little boy in May. I hope she (Ros) doesn't get broody :-D :-D :-D

Had an Email from the chap who I am buying the shade for the oil lamp from. He broke one and that cost £450.00 So I suppose I got of lightly. ;-) ;-) ;-)

Glad to see you about Gill.

Fiona I knew you wouldn't let the side down. At least you went looking in the sales <3 <3 <3. The other girls won't admit it, will they ??

Thanks Mel, I might have a peep in the morning to see if he/her is in residence.

Evening All,

Well OH has now gone to a match at Huntingdon, towards Jane's direction I think! I've got piles of washing waiting to be done so the machine is whirring away now......I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow! The microwave is in place and the old one is in the conservatory for OH to take to the tip. Just need to fathom the different instructions for this one now. :-S It has a wire raised shelf that is only about 2 inches higher than the turntable so I've kept the older taller one.

Maureen I think we are our own worst critics with anything we've done ourselves. You could try selling a few online first.

Mel, that what just what I thought.......a beautiful chandelier, but not a 5 minute job to clean it! The house will be lovely when it is finished Frank and how nice to see the sea through your windows and a lovely palm tree. I would find those stairs a bit hard on the old knees too!! :-S The rooms remind me of mum's house with those tall narrow windows and panelled doors.

Gill, my tree came down at the weekend but the hoover hasn't been round yet so you put me to shame! :-0 It's good your OH is getting more hours now, at least the extra will help when you do eventually move. How long have you lived where you are? You said you had lived in several places.

The plum/ grey combination is something I would like Fiona. I bet you are glad you had a look round now after the relaxing natter with your friends. :-)

I enjoyed Silent Witness last night and the programme about the 6 puppies. :-) What little terrors they were. That poor young woman who fell down the stairs at age 25 and has to use a wheelchair now!! The same happened to a work colleague of mine. He was found at the bottom of the stairs by the cleaner and never worked again. There's something to be said for living in a bungalow. I have also recorded the Stephen King film, Bag of Bones.

I'm still struggling with my puzzle too Jane! I've left it the last couple of days to let my back recover! I might try it on the dining table as well, but the light above reflects off it like the glare of sun on the road!!

We went the different way to see the film last night, but they seem to have switched more lights off there than around here and the signs were poorly or not lit at all or didn't exist so it was more by luck we got there! Good job OH's instincts were right as he hdidn't think he would need the satnav. We enjoyed the film despite it having subtitles and people applauded at the end so it obviously went down well as you don't usually get applause in the cinema!

We will still sell the bungalow Jane, we have to for personal reasons. Although not sure what we'll buy as there doesn't seem to be much on the market round here at the moment. We have to sell this one first, so don't need to worry about it just yet.

OH won't be earning anymore money Mel, as he does the hours anyway. He just wants the hours on a contract instead of some contract and some overtime, as he can't rely on the overtime always being there. He did get a few extra hours on contract but not many, unfortunately.

Yes the place is spick and span now and very bare with no Christmas decorations up. It's going to take some getting used to again.

I'm watching the second part of "Six puppies and Us" at the moment. It's all about six families taking on puppies and how they cope with them, some parts of it are quite funny. Sandra wants us to watch Celebrity Big Brother after it, at nine. She likes that program.

Full of stew too Frank. I have loads of gravy left and a few butter beans so it will make a good pot of soup tomorrow. I am going shopping in the morning but only going to Holsworthy as oh needs cider and I need spotlights for the kitchen as the one over the cooker keeps going and I ca'nt see what I am cooking. Am getting more used to the cooker now but still have to remember that the bottom oven door hits my toes if I don't stand well back and when I open the oven door it steams my glasses up unless I look away.

Going to watch the other half of Silient Witness now so see you all in the morning.

Hello all,

Just reading about your dumplings - I've always loved them too. I cooked curried chicken and rice today, and curly kale from my garden. It's almost gone. I also made an atrocious excuse for bread. :-D I think I told you all that I was going to start a different way of eating, which should also help me lose some weight. I can eat anything except flour and sugar, and am doing fine with it, but today searched the web for a recipe for bread without flour. I chose one to try. It had pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, almonds, oatmeal, flax seed and psyllium (used in some laxatives, and provides bulk), water and salt. I ground most of it up in my little grinder that I have only ever used for nuts. After it had cooled, I sliced it thinly and froze, but buttered one piece and made a pot of tea, very anxious to try it. It's quite 'orrible. :-(
I think it would have been a bit better with a little more salt. I expect I'll give it to the birds. I wonder if it would upset their tummies?

I hope things turn out okay Gill and your hubby gets what he wants at work. I think it best when anyone thinks of moving to a new area, to rent for a while, until you learn your way around. We moved quite a lot when we were first married, but we didn't have much then. We would rent a U-Haul and move our meager possessions ourselves.

If you should move Frank, and have a guest room, I'll be glad to keep it aired out for you :-D :-D :-D I bet after a week or two of your cooking, I'd be waddling when I left. I must say that's a very nice home that Ros' son bought. How super to be able to look out at the ocean.

I did a little bit of shopping the other day. The Christmas decs that were left, were down to 90% off - who could resist that?

Our petrol is now down below $2 a gall. The pound is about $1.50.

There's a programme called 'Galivant' starting this weekend. I think it's an English programme. We finally saw the 1st part of Downton last Sunday, and loved it.

William, I'm sure your daughter will soon be well again, especially now that she's in such a good hospital.

Many of our hospitals are not allowing visitors because of the flu. Several people have died. Apparently, the vaccine we received this year didn't cover this particular strain.

We're going to remain below freezing all day tomorrow, so I'm not planning on going anywhere.

Jane, I hope your daughter is better now - that condition can be very painful. Aren;t they both so fortunate to be able to travel to such interesting places.

Time for the news and then get ready for bed.

Morning all and evening Kim, and Ruby an Shirl and anyone else in a differt time zone.

Raining here as usual and not so windy as yesterday. It is dull and gloomy and I have togo up the shops for some essentials like CIDER.

Suns out now :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D but everywhere is very very wet out there.