General Chat

Its been a long time since we made snowmen too Jane and our Sandra so wants it too.

Finished my cards so I can do the wreath tomorrow for the church. Going to do up a few presents now as oh is in bed I can get out what I bought him today.

Morning all

Sunny here but cold with it. I see on the weather forecast that the snow is getting that little bit closer to us, so you never know Sandra might have her wish soon.

So it's wreath day today then Mel. Will you be working in your shed, maybe Robbie will arrive and watch you working.

Nothing much planned for today apart from picking the car up. I had a good run on OH's family tree yesterday, so I'm hoping I have another day like it today. I do need to write my Christmas cards as I haven't done that yet and it's December now. Sandra has her first sweet out of the advent calendar I made her today.

She is still asleep and OH has just nipped out so I'll take another look at the tree while it's quiet.

What is everyone else up to today. Did you manage to wrap up your OH's presents last night, while he was asleep Mel?

Morning Gill and all.

We have sunshine too and a pinch and a punch for the first of the Christmas month.

Still cold out though as you say Gill. Yes a nice day to work in the shed on the church ring and no doubt Robby will join me for his good dose of mealworms.

I shall be out cutting green stuff and may have to go down the forest for some fluffy stuff if anything has fallen off the trees lately.

I did get nearly all oh's presents done up last night but just could'nt facet the last two. One if very awkward to wrap and I can't find a box the right size to put it in. Maybe I have one somewhere but I was'nt turfing everything out last night to find one.

I have to go up the post van today to post an overseas card and hope I am not too late.

Good morning Gill and Mel, and all my other little friends, Evening Kim.

Simon's on the phone again at 9,30 checking how Ros is, he hasn't missed once this week. He and Sally are coming over Sunday in time for him and I to go for a pint at the pub, on our own. We haven't done that for many years.

Yesterday was his 30th anniversary at FORDS at Daventry. He reckons he will do another 10 years before retiring at 62. Good luck to him.

I managed to burn my arm again yesterday on the towel rail. Almost exactly the same place. I have now draped a towel over that area, so it won't happen again. !!

Gill I sold the Vauxhall range of cars over many years. The Vectra replaced the Cavalier, which was the most popular car made by Vauxhall. So hopefully this car will serve you well for a few years.

So Wreaths are starting to be made. How many are you making this year Mel. ?? will you sell them in the shop, or just for friends. Which reminds me, we have to go to Earles Barton to lay flowers and wreaths on Ros's M & D grave.

I am taking Ros out for a meal, when we get the car back later today. I'm sure it will help cheer her up, and I won't need to cook.

I have about a dozen reachable AA batteries, Do you think I can find the two charges I have NO WAY. You watch. I will order new ones today, and they will turn up. SODS LAW.

See you all later.

Our little Mercedes is in the garage today. Having a service and a replacement front side light, MORE EXPENSE !!!

Ros is now decorating the Mantel piece and window sill. I must get the bags of lights in from the garage for the outside.

Roa seems a little better again this morning so the tablets must be kicking in. Thank goodness.

I have just sent an eMail to Harvey. Rightly or wrongly, I think he should know how his mother has been. He knew last Sunday, and hasn't bothered picking up the phone all week.

All showered and shaved, still in my dressing gown, as I had a giddy spell in the shower.

This word correction thingy on the Mac Book, puts and changes words without you knowing. Where I said giddy they changed it to SMELLY. How could that be I had just had a shower LOL LOL

Frank you just watch what you say to Harvey you don't want to get on the wrong side of him.

Pleased to hear Ros is feeling much better now Frank, be careful she doesn't over do things with the Christmas decorations until she's fully recovered though. That's nice of Simon to keep in touch each day to see how Ros is doing, he sounds a lovely man and very thoughtful. I'm sure Harvey is thinking about Ros, although one phone call would of been nice. So you had a smelly shower today then LOL ;-) Good idea to put a towel over the area you keep catching it on, your arm will end up really sore otherwise.

Would any of the shops have a box the right size Mel for your OH's present, it might be worth asking and might save you some time emptying a box of your own, as you'd have to find somewhere for the contents to go. It sounds like you're busy enough as it is. How are you getting on with your rings.....yes, how many are you making this year?

Sandra and I have been watching Kirstie's handmade Christmas, it's really good. There are some really clever crafters around, you should see some of the things they make, they're brilliant.

OH has just gone to get the new car, so hopefully he won't be to long. They told him to collect it after 2pm, I hope they don't keep him hanging around. He said he'll have to fill the tank as the light came on when he took it for the test drive. We are part exchanging ours which has about half a tank of fuel in it, so they're getting a bargain.

I've been taking another look at OH's tree today, but I'm not getting very far. It's horrible when you hit a brick wall isn't it? I did so well yesterday too.

Afternoon All,

We had snow, tiny flakes, at teatime yesterday but it didn't settle, only on my car roof! OH thought I was kidding when I told him as he was about to set off to one of the schools about an hour away along country lanes. Later when he came home he said there were huge flakes coming down near the school. It's amazing how just a few miles away the weather can be so different.

Oh poor Jake Mandy. I do feel for him as I hated school most of the time too! My tummy was always in a knot and churning in the mornings and it was the start of me not eating breakfast. The teacher was so wrong to show him up in front of the class in that rude manner over a small misunderstanding. It was no example to set. This incident won't help at all so I hope they can sort things out so he is happier there. I saw those Christmas trees too and wondered whether to get one. It was a good idea to have one near your front door, it will look very welcoming with it's lights on. :-)

I see you have your new car Gill. Have you been out for a spin? My dad had a white Vauxhall Vectra in the mid 60s. I used to drive it into the city to the bank on Thursdays to collect the wages and sometimes took mum shopping in it. It was odd really, as I was the only other person he allowed to drive his cars . He had several Vauxhalls and they were all reliable.

Well, yesterday I went for the NHS health check that is supposed to be offered to my age group every 5 years. The nurse started by saying that I'd had one in 2013 (when I asked about it a few months ago they said I'd had one last year?). I said OH had had an invitation letter this year and that I'd never ever had one. She found the copy of the letter I was supposed to have been sent in 2013 and that included a fasting blood test, urine sample, which me or OH would certainly have remembered. She said my results including blood sugar and cholesterol had been obtained and noted. It was all news to me as I keep any letter like that and a notebook with these things and the dates. I said there had been no discussion of the results and she said there wouldn't be unless something was wrong. How can that be the case when OH was asked to book an appointment to discuss his results before they'd even got them back from his tests!! The conversation was going nowhere so I asked her when my next check was due and she said next year. I then mentioned my glucose test result and that it now needed the doctor to ring me with it in the afternoon whereas it hadn't in the past. She agreed the staff couldn't give me the result, but said she could! (I didn't mention it, but why was I told I needed a doctor to ring me with the result if a nurse could tell me?) She then snapped at me 'but would you understand the result if you knew it though'. I bristled a bit at that but calmly told her that I'd participated both in studies and training and taken part in many focus groups at the Diabetes Research Unit over at least 8 years and that 'yes' I would know what it meant. So she knew I knew I also said that 6.5 was diabetic and my result previously had been at the higher end of normal and that I needed to know what it was so that I could try and do something about it if it had gone up. She seemed surprised, but said nothing but looked at my results and told me the figure which I said was rather high and she agreed. She said the doctor had put 'normal' but to continue with annual checks. I know the figure wasn't 'normal', but is in the pre-diabetic range where, according to Diabetes UK, a doctor should discuss how to bring the figure down and hopefully prevent diabetes as it may be reversible or at least delayed at that stage.

Sorry to have a grumble about this, but when diabetes is such a huge increasing cost to the NHS, which is already in trouble, and you get thwarted and barriers put up by your surgery for trying to do what you can to help yourself, there's not much hope for us is there. :-SThat's today's bee in my bonnet sorted now so I shall smile and move on! :-)

No beading with my friends today as the lady whose house we go to had a fall and hurt her wrist and is at A&E instead! OH has gone to an old footie pal's funeral near Walsall. He's gone with another footie pal so he could be gone a long while.

I expect Mel is busy with her wiring if she got all the greenery for the Advent Ring........accompanied by music from Robby if he's around. They were going to close 4 of the little local libraries round here Mel and just leave the main one or two open, but with limited hours and days. Most of them have stayed open some of the time and are run by volunteers. I used libraries most of my life, but ours are more like preschool now with groups of toddlers playing and singing. It's good, but you can't sit and read all the newspapers or do any work in peace like you could when I first retired!

I'm glad Ros is much better Frank, but she must be careful with the vertigo. I think anti depressants can take a while to be fully effective so hopefully you will feel better soon. I agree with Mel for what it's worth. You don't want Harvey to feel like Simon is the Prodigal son do you. You also can't make someone else do what you think they ought to do can you. Just approach it a bit carefully with what you say that's all. You know what I mean!! I meant to ask before whether Lewis has managed to get another car yet?

I meant to record Kirstie Gill, so I'm glad you mentioned it!

Hi all,

Yes I was very careful what I said to Harvey. I explained I knew how busy he was, but not to forget him Mum.

Lewis got a Vauxhall Corsa, within a few days of his accident (Bank of M & Dad) but I know he (lewis) will repay them on a monthly basis. We did say we would help towards it, but he refused. !!! It's a Black metallic. Harvey came home from work one night wen it was dark, and there was Lewis cleaning and polishing his car in the dark.

Ros has come back with the car Pam next door took her up to collect it. We are off now to get a bite to eat somewhere. Roa doesn't want to go to far and nowhere posh. !!!

That was perfect Frank. <3 It sounds like Lewis has quickly fallen in love with his new wheels with polishing it in the dark! lol. He's good and obviously thoughtful to refuse your help with buying it really but will no doubt appreciate that you offered.

It's nice to go somewhere close and not posh sometimes! I was thinking of going to Sainsbury's for their Christmas lunch today while OH is at the funeral. lol. A friend said to join her and her hubby if I happened to be in there! In the end I had some soup as It would have been very busy being a Friday.

OH has just rung so should be back soon. He said there were no hymns today, so I wonder what they sang? No doubt he will soon be here to tell me.

Good afternoon everyone

I hope you have an enjoyable meal with Ros Frank it will do you both good to get out now Ros is on the mend. Are Simon and Harvey brothers? I know with Peter's family some were better than others at picking up the phone, Peter always used to leave it up to me to ring and I would pass the phone over to him.

Ruby I'm pleased to say is more or less back to her old self and has been charging up and down stairs with one of her toys some of the others are all across the floor, she is also getting her appetite back.

Ann I was pre diabetic for years before I needed to take Metformin but I have managed to keep my results satisfactory, I think I've mentioned before mine is hereditary and not because of life style as I have never been over weight despite always having a desk job.

Mandy so sorry to hear about Jake's recent experience at his school, his treatment by the teacher was appalling and it is good he has been suspended so at least his school has taken action about it.

Richard is out for his first Christmas meal this evening it is with his colleagues from I.H.S where he used to work and he goes every year.

It hasn't snowed here yet but it has in London which isn't too far from here but has been so cold again with very frosty early mornings.

Afternoon All

Hope OH is back with the car now Gill. I always think it is stingy of garages not to put at least a decent amount of fuel in the tank and not have it on the red light. What would happen if the nearest petrol station is a long drive from collecting a new car !!

Mel have you got heating in the shed? I never remember if you said you had or not.I have a feeling you might have said it would be a long way to put leccy in there.
I am so glad we decided to have electric in the Summerhouse.Chris has an oiled filled radiator in there which he turned on earlier to warm it up before he went out to do some painting .

I had a card from Kim today.So that is 3 now. They the only Xmasy things I have up so far. Fitz is collecting his 12ft tree at 5. He was wondering how to tie the boot lid down as th tree will be sticking out the back. Im sure he will find something.Chris said to make sure he had a light or reflector for the tree as it will be pitch black and illegal not to have something.I suggested he went to Halfords as he would be able to pick something cheap up there to do the job.

That was some phone call today Ann. It sounded a right cockup. No wonder you needed to have a good grumble.

Ros sounds so much better Frank :-D. Hopefully at this rate she will be all tickety boo in time for Christmas :-D. Good idea yto keep a towel on that bit of towel rail .You cant keep burning your arm :-S.. I wish we had toilets like in Japan with heated seats.
My gawd the one in the ensuite if like ice in the middle of the night :-S

Mel how many years ago did we make those Snowmen? would it be about 7?
I had a good talking to from the dental hygienist this morning and was told I HAD to use those interdental brushes. A bigger one for my back teeth and thinner one for the front ones. She did a good bit of digging and scraping with that sharp thing. I have a couple of really sensitive teeth at the back now :-S

Hannah and Gareth have gone to Rye for the weekend,and Gareth sent me a couple of pics with them riding bikes. There was not another person in sight . Probably they were all being sensible and staying in the warm LOL
James is in Nottingham now probably booked in to his hotel. Dogs tomorrow. He said he had a phone call quite late last night from the hotel to say the road was going to shut for most of today because of the visit from Harry and Meghan. I wonder if they are going to the Dogs tomorrow :-D :-D I doubt it somehow :-D

I went over to the shops at Rushden Lakes today.Once again there was an awul stink in the air . It must come from the Lakes.It is really horrible and smells like really bad drains :-S :-S.It puts me off going really. Maybe next time I will take a nose peg.

Pork Steaks with a Sage Butter tonight , Charlotte Potatoes and a mix of veg (whatever is in the fridge).

Jane its a lot longer than 7 years as mums been dead for that long now. If only I had my old pc as the pics were on there. They would have been dated I expect.

I did some wiring before lunch only the yellow everyellow ( you can't say grenn when its not) then got lunch. The wood was ariving today for the outside of the back door. Oh had taken down all the vertigal wood and the rungs along the top of the main frame. He also put some woodstain on some of the big posts. I went down the wood to find some fluffy stuff but when I got up our driveway the van was parked right in the middle and the man was unloading the wood two pieces at a time. I waited a while and I had tooted my hooter once to tell oh it had arrived. Then I walked across our top field and through Em's mum and dads place and through the gate between and into Em's to drop off the boys stocking while they were at school which gave Em time to hide them. Walked beack to the car by which time the lorry had gone and oh was making his way very slowly up our road. I made sure the mower with the trailer on started ok and then went off down the wood. Not much fluffy stuff about though but managed to get enough to do the Advent Ring. Stopped on the way back and picked some holly berries came home and I have wired the fluffy stuf and put that and the yellow stuff in and picked holly from the garden and put berries on it and that too is in and picked the ivy berries and leaves and wired those and they are in and put the Christmas roses in so there is only the cones and bows to go in now and its done. I just have to find enough candles for it. I had to redo the centre as the oasis needed turning around so I can put a candle holder in it. I also had to rewire two of the four candle holders around the outside of the ring and moss the center. Anyway they have managed to lose the central candle holder once again this year and I can't find another at the moment. So I got on quite well really.

Jane no I don't have leccy in my shed but the suns been out all day and it was quite warm in there as I have the top half of the door open so Robby can come in. He came in once while I was inthere but I had a red hat and scarf on and I don't think he likes me in that. He has gone a bit shy at the moment.

Must get the dinner on. We are having our nice sausages, carrots brussles onions and mustard mash.

Hi all,

We had a nice meal out. Roa had steak with all the trimmings, I had Ham off the bone two eggs and chips and a couple of pints. We came home and fed Biggles with a tin of meat and biscuits and steak that Ros had over. He isn't allowed meat, just biscuit, so we are spoiling him rotten. I can't believe there is enough goodness in just biscuits.

Anne Simon in my son, Harvey and Conrad are Ros's, but I bought them up from 7 and 10 yeas old. So they are my SONS.

Harvey rang his mother this evening and she told him how she has been. I did mention to him not to say I had been in contact, which he didn't. He is coming up tomorrow afternoon to do a couple of jobs for us. So I think I shamed him into it.

I just looked up the lounge to see madam with two box's of chocolates , so she is going to have a couple. Good sign she's feeling better. LOL LOL.

We both dropped off for half an hour this evening. It's so cold out. So we are in the best place.

You were one of the unlucky ones to have the hereditary version Anne. My First OH's sister had it diagnosed in her 20s and he had an elderly aunt whose sight was affected by it so it must have been in his family too. That's good that little Ruby is more like her old playful self again. Richard's first Christmas lunch is nice and early but that is good as service can get slower nearer Christmas. It's one thing I miss from being at work.

Jane I hate that probe thing they poke your teeth with too. It often finds a sensitive spot! I use those interdental brushes and find them much easier than any floss. If I'm in a hurry they tend to bend and eventually they snap leaving the brush bit stuck between your teeth. :-S I get mine from the supermarket now instead of traipsing to the dentist. That smell isn't a good advert for Rushden Lakes is it? They must have known about it when they built it unless it disappears in the summer. I'd forgotten about Harry and Meghan's visit to Nottingham. I expect James will be out with his pals tonight. I don't know what it is like now but Nottingham night life used to be good. I went ice skating there a few times (not that I can skate!!) and often visited one of the offices there to do with work. I haven't been since before they had trams though!! lol.

I have 4 christmas cards now including Kim's which came today and one from the mattress people!!.......thank you Kim if you look in!! <3 <3 Nothing else is done though. We are getting the boxes of decs out of the loft this weekend and I shall get my cards written while OH is at footie tomorrow. At least I got the stamps at the post office the other day.

OH said the funeral was quite unusual as there was no singing at all, just readings.

You did well with the ring today Mel. I have just finished my 3rd bauble (no beads involved!)

Interesting Ann what are you doing with them then?

It is good little Ruby seems more her usual self now. Is she playing with her little pink piggy?

Gill is it this years series of Kirstie or last years your watching?

Morning all

Damp with fine rain here this morning, so we're glad we got the new car yesterday as the old one leaked and we'd end up with a couple of inches of rain water on the floor. We tried covering it with a car cover but it didn't make any difference and with all the high wind OH had to tuck it into the car doors which meant the rain got in and went on the front seats. The day we went to the funeral my seat was so wet I had to sit in the back. It's so nice not to have that problem anymore.

I don't blame you Ann for being so angry and upset Diabetes is serious and all you wanted to do was look after yourself. I've never heard of a funeral without singing before.

I didn't know Diabetes was hereditary Anne, sorry to hear you have it. So Ruby is back to her normal self now, that must be a relief. Did Richard enjoy his first Christmas meal?

Did Fitz managed to get his 12 foot Christmas tree home okay Jane, he must have a big car to fit it in to. How are your teeth today, hopefully not so sensitive?

It's sounds like you were busy yesterday Mel with your rings, how many are you making this year?

How is Ros today Frank, it sounds like she's almost back to her usual self now, it must be such a relief. Pleased to hear Harvey rang her and now he's coming to do a few jobs for you both....can't be bad ;-)

I'm not sure if it's this years series of Kirstie or not Mel as it seems to have bits I've seen before and some new stuff too. There are quite a few different Kirstie Christmas craft programmes on at the moment so we've been watching them all. I love her, she's so funny and seems to eat and drink everything as she's making it.

I've just run a bath so I'd better go before it goes cold. I might go out somewhere later as I haven't been out in the new car yet and it could do with a good run. OH has booked it in for a service next Tuesday. We do that with all our cars when we first buy them, even if the garage says they've already done it. Better to be safe than sorry.

Morning all,

Gill I think we have the same weather here but its not so cold today as it has been. We have a tiny bit of blue sky but its mostly white thin clouds. I don't know how many rings I will make this year. I only did 9 last year and the ring for the church and some flower arrangements. My hands are all achey this morning so it must be the wiring. Enjoy your ride out in the new car without a wet botty!

Usual things this morning like the shop and egg delivery and I may do some rings after finishing off the church one.

I came into the kitchen this morning and Alexa was playing Christmas songs which oh must have told her to do for me!! I will get him back tomorrow.

How nice to get up to Christmas songs Mel. Talking of Christmas the card you sent Sandra has just arrived she said to say thank you <3 it's our first Christmas card and Sandra said it was a nice surprise, she loves all the little Robin's on it.

We've decided not to go out now as I still have a sore throat and now I've started with ear ache. OH has just rang his mum to say we'll go later next week. His mum told him that his brother has got a chest infection so couldn't have his last bout of Chemo, so OH is a bit worried about him now. Because I'm not feeling very well his mum said it was a good idea to wait until I was better incase it gets passed on but hopes I get better soon. So I'm going to write out my Christmas and birthday cards today. I will write Christmas and birthday on the back of the cards I send to you Anne and Frank, so you know which is which and can keep the birthday ones for your special days.

I still haven't got in the bath so will probably have to put some more hot water in it now. The rain has stopped here, hope it's brightened up a bit by you too Mel.

Sandra has just told me that it was pouring with rain in the night. I must of been very tired as I didn't hear a thing. OH said the car was nice and dry inside when he went out this morning, so that's good :-)