General Chat

The best layed plans for mice and men went out the window today. Oh asked me if I wanted him to put my new tree together. It was such a good offer I could'nt refuse as it dos'nt usually come in till the day before Christmas eve so I said yes please. That was before lunch. We were going to have it on the floor but decided in the end to put it on the telly stand which we used to do with the real one. It took so long to get all the branches in position and then he decided to turn the light on it so I could see if it was right or not. He put the top bit on but I got the lunch then so it had to wait till we had eaten.

Its up and running now but no baubles yet just the fairy on the top. I am so tired as I hav'nt stopped all day so I am just having a sit down before making a COT for me and a COC for him.

Plus I have hoovered down the cobwebs as I could'nt be bothered to spray them with gold and silver paint. Only joking but they are not there tonight but I wonder how many there will be in the morning? I just have to hoover the kitchen now and tidy a few more things off my desk and I should be getting there then.

O I also put my rose hips up on the plate rack and along the window garland.

Sorry you had another bad night Frank and hope you sleep better tonight.

Jane did you see the last one of the Detectorists?

Yes Mel I did see the last one of the Detectorists :-D :-D I thought the ending was lovely with all the gold falling fromm the tree .. They got their hoard in the end :-D :-D
Dont talk about blooming cobwebs. My house would be really glittering and looking very pretty if I sprinkled glitter all over them LOL I am sick to death with cobwebs :-S
I wish I could deport all the spiders that are lurking in my house.

These trees you have to put together sound so much more difficult than having a real one.At least you have it up now Mel .Baubles tomorrow :-D

My Amaryllis is finally flowering :-D. The length of the stem is crazy .It has to be getting on for 3ft !! I am hoping that now the blooms are coming out it wont grow any taller !!

I think the cobwebs would look pretty with glitter on :-D
So the trees up Mel just the decorations to go on and you'll be all christmassy

I see there's a new lot of Father Brown tomorrow in place of Doctors ,then blow me on tuesday it's a repeat one and then no more for the rest of the week , i like Father Brown they are nice little stories and not to long .

Poor James i wonder what he did to his neck ,i hate it when you rick your neck ,it can make it feel sore for a day or two .
I haven't got an Amaryllis this year but they do grow to a height ,what colour is it ? my last one was a pinky colour with a little white in it ,i like the red ones to.

I like Father Brown too. Just light hearted stories and no sex or bad swear words. I had'nt noticed they were only on once a week though.

Evening All,

Weather's been dreary and wet here. We went for lunch at Lutterworth as usual and as we walked in the staff said 'our' table was free. lol. We never book anyway. I left half of my lunch today, just wasn't that hungry. I wasn't sure I'd be able to make it, but the night's rest had helped my knee and I was just walking slowly and carefully today (like I was 100 years old!! lol)

Well, Mel I think great minds must have been thinking alike! :-) Just a few days ago OH said he thought he fancied a new iphone/smart phone and I said I wondered whether to get a tablet, but both of us didn't fancy getting used to them either! I'm not sure about a phone myself as, although mine is a smart phone, I use it as PAYG and it only costs me about £20 a year. At least I wouldn't have to pay insurance though as my bank account includes that for free. I had noticed that they do half day teaching sessions for tablets at our local libraries and wondered about going to one. We still haven't made our minds up yet, but I think the main reason for getting them is so we don't get left behind by technology like so many do!! :-0

I thought the Strictly final this year was one of the best and thought Joe deserved to win although although I wanted it to be Debbie. I think it's hard to judge who has an advantage really as those who have a long acting career like Joe have an advantage they are used to acting in front of people. Debbie joined the Royal Ballet at age 16, but she stopped after only 3 years at age 19 when the ballet company she was touring with was kicked out of Tehran in an Islamic revolt. Ballet training is so precise it must make it more difficult to do the more fluid latin dance movements. I see there has been a bit of a backlash from the public both for her doing a ballet show dance and the fact that the judges chose a much lower marked dance, the Samba, for her to do compared with Alexandra who got a higher marked dance to repeat! It was a crying shame though that Aston got voted off by the public, what a final that would have been. Now we have it all to go through again with Dancing on Ice! :-D

Anne I looked at the paintings and she does some lovely work with quite a bit of drama in some like you say. How interesting she used to be a medical artist, I had never realised there were such things! I must look up Stephen's condition and how kind he was to give you a hug and say that simple lovely thing about Peter. <3

I had to smile at young Lewis again Mandy. lol

Sorry you had a bad night Frank. Not lying awake wondering what Santa will bring you are you? Only a few more days and you will be off to the seaside. You are good doing the ham to take with you and no doubt other goodies. How many of you will be there this year?

I bet poor Thomas doesn't know whether he's coming or going with the weather. I wonder if they remember the last time was rainy when they looked out.

We enjoyed the David Attenborough prog last night about the flourescent creatures in the sea and on the land. We are watching the recorded Agatha Christie shortly, The Crooked House I think.

Morning all

The sun's out today, which makes a nice change.

I can hear an alarm, I think it's next doors smoke alarm, he must of burnt something in his kitchen. It keeps going on and off.

Poor Thomas, hope you have the sun to Jane so Thomas isn't running in and out all day. Yes my Banana plant seems to be doing okay now we've brought it inside. The one shoot that survived is still alive so that's good. I had to cut the black leaves off the other two shoots, which was a shame.

So you're decorating your tree today then Mel? It'll look pretty when it's all finished.
I laughed when I read about you all thinking of putting glitter on your cobwebs, it would be very Christmassy though ;-) ;-)

Hair colouring day today, it should really be done in about a weeks time, but that would mean doing it on Christmas day, so I'm doing it today instead.

I was so busy yesterday and ended up going to bed around 4am, I was wide awake so didn't realise how late it was. The only problem with that was I woke up early this morning with the bins being emptied and then when they had gone the roofers turned up, so I've only had about 5 hours sleep. No doubt I'll be tired this afternoon now.

I've got lots to do today, after I've coloured my hair, I've got to finish off the dressing gown I started a while back, I've only got the two pockets to cut out and put in, then I'm going to take a pattern off the original dressing gown and cut out the pieces for a further two dressing gowns, which will be the same size as the original. The one I'm finishing off now is shorter as I didn't have enough material to do it the size I wanted. Then when all that's done I'll have to hoover everywhere.

Sandra had us going through the planner yesterday putting in all the films and programmes she wants to watch, so if we have enough time this afternoon we'll be watching some more Christmas films together. She had us watching loads of Christmas films yesterday afternoon. OH has gone to his mates to give him his Christmas present and card then he has to re-new his driving licence as the reminder came through the other day, so I'm hoping to have my hair colouring on by the time he comes home. Sandra is going to help me as I can't see the back properly on my own.
So as you can see. I'm busy, busy, busy, today :-D :-D and I think it'll be an early night tonight after all the work I have planned. ;-)

Well, I'd better make a start on my hair as it takes around 5 hours to do from start to finish. See you all later.

Morning all,

Misty moisty and frosty all at the same time with sunshine too at the moment and beautiful blue sky as far as the eye can see.

I had dreadful indigestion again last night. We had a cuppa and a scone with cream and jam and after that I seemed to have got it. Did'nt want anything else and went and layed on the bed in the dark. Oh came in later and I asked him what the time was and he said five past nine. I got up then to watch the Agather Christie program. After that I went to bed.

Good morning my little fairies, Evening Kim,

Cold winters day out there. I have been to the freezer to get the gammon out. I didn't take anything with me to carry it. So I held it in my dressing gown. Was it heavy and COLD.

With Jan's family, I expect there will be NINE on Christmas day. That's if Mark and Kerry come. I did hear they might come down on Boxing day. I will know more when Jan and Conrad pick us up. He is coming home during the week so he can be here to pick us up. GAWD knows how we will get 4 of us in the car with two weeks cloths in cases and all the presents. I expect I will have things on my lap and between us in the back.

Ros has made a Christmas cake, I am doing the Gammon. There are other goodies Ros has bought that will need to be fitted in the car. Beef, Prawn Ring, Vegetables from our fridge (of which there are plenty) and Whatever she finds to take.

Jane, it will be nice to have a Family Christmas, and all meet up again later for a real get together.

Ann, Like you, I didn't eat much of my dinner last night. I think with me it is. I am dodging in and out of the kitchen all the time it's cooking. Plus having prepared it. It gets to the point where I can be bother to eat. Ros enjoyed hers, so that was good.

She is going to be weighed about 3.30 this afternoon, so I will go with her and get a haircut (which I need badly)

She has to take a water sample to the Drs, and drop Sids Val's present off this morning.

All presents that need to be delivered, have been done. as are the Christmas cards. So the rest of the week is ours. Tomorrow evening is Mothers clue get together, Wednesday is the Concert. THURSDAY NOTHING AS YET> !!!!

My turn in the shower now, so I will be off. Have a safe day, whatever you are doing and be careful if you are walking. xxx

Sun is out, so looks quite nice outside. Have just got the sheets out of the tumble dryer. Roa is going to get the ironing done, so that's out of the way.

I didn't mention. Yet another bad night. I stayed up until 11.00 pm laid awake, Ros came in about midnight. Still wide awake. I came out at 1.00 am and read until 3.00 was awake again at 7.00. I feel I have a very dry mouth and hope i'm not catching anything that's going around. I keep having to have sips of water. I think I need a good RUB DOWN. LOL LOL

So you didn't fair well after your cream tea then Mel. I love scones and cream, but know I will suffer after it. But once in a while it's worth going through.

Any sign of the roofer finishing Gill, It would be nice if it's all done and dusted before Christmas. I had a Banana plant for a couple of years, but they are so difficult to keep through the winter, I ended up throwing it away.

I must get down the garden this week. I have all those potato's in the veg. patch, that are suppose to be ready for Christmas. Something else to get in the car !!!! I Hope they are worth the trouble. ;-) ;-)

I've finished yet another book. The rate I am going I won't have anything to read over the Christmas period. I will have to charge up my kindle and take that with me.

Two cases sitting on the dining room table. Things being added, as we think what we will need. :-S :-S :-S I bet I will miss something out !!!

COT time, then off to the hairdressers, I will feel the chill round my "lug 'oles" tonight.

Afternoon All,

Well it was sunny here earlier after a frost, but I can hardly see up the close now as it's so foggy. I was going to pop out in my car later to see if I can drive ok with my knee still not good, but I don't think I'll bother now. If it's a problem for me to drive to the hairdressers in the morning OH will run me there and collect me later. We nipped to Sainsbury's this morning and got the last bits we need except for some veg which I can get from the farm shop later in the week. We stayed and had their Christmas lunch which was very nice.

OH is doing notes now while I attempt to straighten up in here......I can see a spider and webs so they will have to go. I looked in a few more places for the lost stick this morning but no luck! I'm also going to sort out wool and needles to knit my Teddy bear an aran jumper over Christmas! I can't remember if I said but I have had a half knitted aran jumper I started for myself at least 25 years ago!!! I thought I'd done it a bit small then, but wasn't sure I'd got enough wool to knit it bigger. There's no chance of it fitting me now so Teddy may as well have a jumper. I found a free pattern on the internet and also one for a hat and scarf for him so he may get those as well!;-)

Gill, it's quite a job colouring your hair isn't it and yours is very long. It's handy having Sandra to help with the back though. I wonder how your OH's friend is coping. It must be hard for him, but he will be glad to see your OH.

Our recycling bin is overflowing so we'll be glad when the bin men come tomorrow. They didn't come at all last week because of the snow!! I can't remember that ever happening years ago and they had to haul the heavy metal bins on their backs from in your back garden then.

It sounds like you are all organised with your jobs and packing etc Frank. Ros will be busy with the concert too. Will you be going? Sorry to hear you had another bad night.

Good idea to get ahead with your yorkshires Mandy. This year I'm doing the roast potatoes tomorrow to freeze, parboiled, fluffed up and oiled ready to roast. I like them crunchy so I hope it works ok!

Oh dear Mel, at least you know what caused the indigestion. It is horrid though. :-S

Afternoon all,

It's been a nice sunny day ,it was frosty but thst soon went when the sun got through .

Ann i did my roasties for christmas day and put them in the freezer today ,i had a trial run with them a few weeks ago,i froze a few and we had some done fresh on the day ,they both browned and crisped up lovely but the frozen ones were more fluffy inside so they work a treat.
I just parboiled them ,fluffed them up ,let them get cold bagged them up and froze them ,i didn't use any oil as i wondered if they would soak the oil up and taste really fatty.
I'm going to do mine in Goose fat on the day.
I'm going to do my shop tomorrow and then it will be just the veg to get later in the week .

Afternoon All

I think it is really cold now but didnt seem so bad earlier. James only worked this morning and then he picked Johnny's Mum up and took her our for lunch. How lovely was that. He is so thoughtful sometimes and I am sure that Denise was tickled pink :-D

They went to Wildwood a new place that opened up in town some months ago.I think it was Denises choice to go there. James really wanted t otake her somewhere a bit different but he said it was good and they both had a lovely meal.

I have made a Chickory Gratin this afternoon to go with Scampi and Chips tonight.I havent made this before .It looks fine but I have put it in a dish that is a bit too big so hope it doesnt dry out.
It sounds like you are just about all set now Frank for the trip to Devon. I hope with all your luggage and food etc that you have enough space to sit comfortably.Will you have a break on the way to stretch legs and maybe a loo visit?
I had an email last night from Mark .This is Rachels brother(Rachel in S Africa) he is working in Brussels now working for the Foreign Office. He ,his OH and little daughter Freya are coming over and want to know if they can come and see us for a day.So I have suggested the 2nd or 3rd Jan.It will be good to see them again .Freya was 2 last month and they are expecting another baby in Feb :-D

Have you got your hair done now Gill? What a job that is LOL .You must be exhausted too after not going to bed until 4am !!!!!.

Teddy will be nice and warm then Ann :-D.. I have Big Ted who is so bald now he must be frozen poor thing :-S He is over 60 years old too. Our recycling bins will be done on Wednesday but the black rubbish one will now be well after Christmas and there is already too much in there! :-S.

Mel you will have to have your Scones and Cream much earlier in the day LOL Sorry that you suffered after really enjoying what has to be the most loveliest of things . A good Scone ,Jam and Clotted Cream is just so scrummy.

I have never thought about pre cooking roast potatoes and Yorkshires. I have seen how to do the potatoes ,but there is no blooming space in my freezer for anything much at all now. I keep trying to use things from the freezer but then buy more things which fills it up again :-S.. I did have an idea just now about keeping a few things cold as i know the 2 fridges are going to be stuffed and that is the electric cold box that plugs in the car.I asked Chris if it could have a mains adaptor and plug it in in the garage. It is only small but will take a few bits and bobs. He has just had a look and has found that is does have one . That was my brain storm for today :-D :-D

Mandy my Amaryllis is a very pale pink and white. Two big blooms now and i think a third wont be long in opening. It is just a shame the stem is soooooo tall.It just looks silly.It is now at the top of the window frame on the sill !!!
Your Xmas card still hasnt arrived !!. In fact we havent had anything in the post today other than the Xmas Radio Times.

Chris is just telling me about some terrible Train disaster in Washington.De railed and came down on a highway :-( :-(. I havent seen the news yet .

Thomas looks like he is waking up and on the move. When I went out this morning I pulled out onto the road and spotted him sitting in next doors driveway (too near the road).So I stopped and went back in our drive and called him.He came through the hedge and I managed to shoo him around to the back of our house. I just wish he stay at the back of the houses and not venture out the front.It just gives me the jitters .We are a 30mph now on this road but not too many drivers stick to that :-S. Some still think they can use it like a race track .

Frank,I hope you manage to get a better sleep tonight. You might need a wooly hat with your new short back and sides :-D :-D

Thank you for that Mandy. It's good to know you have tried it and I will put the oil on mine on the day I cook them now. As you say, they might soak too much up and be greasy. :-) The more we can do ahead, the more we can enjoy the day!

How busy you have all been, really getting ready for Christmas. I have never thought of doing puddings (I don't have them at Christmas) and roast potato's. But if s you say, there are fine. It might be worth a try on a Sunday. I will mention it to Conrad, he might give it a try.

Food and sleep seem to be the last thing on my mind at the moment. I just threw half of my dinner away, after preparing and cooking it. Ros seems to be a bit concerned, especially as I am not a picker. It was my first food of the day again. I have fought against dropping off in the chair, after coming back from having my hair cut.

Roa went to be weighed while I was in the hairdressers, she lost HALF A POUND. Better than putting it on !!! We met in Tesco's and I had a stroll around. It has changed so much since I was last there.

The FOG has really come down here. It wasn't good going to town, But coming home was horrendous. Still there were silly people (I could say something different) driving with just side lights on. You could hardly see them, gawd knows what would have happened if you had to swerve. The chances are there would be an accident.

I have the gammon on a low gas. It will "TICK" along for 4/5 hours. Then I will bake it tomorrow with Mustard, brown sugar and honey. Paddy down the pub says he cooks his with Tomato Puree, somehow that doesn't appeal to me. Everyone to their own.!!!

Ros and I have decided we won't take OUR Christmas presents down to Devon. We will open them on my Birthday. It will save dragging them down and back again. It will leave more space for other things.

Have a pleasant evening. I know we have TWO hours of soaps tonight. But I have my book. !!!

O girls that sounds a good idea to so the teddies and put them in the freezer. I am like Jane though and my freezer is crammed full. I may have a good clear out after Christmas but won't have time before.

Finished my other wreath when oh was up the docs having the results from the nurse. I dressed the tree today and am very pleased with it. It looks a treat now and if a branch is in the way I can just bend it.

Then I had a lovely time doing up presents for Em and Ed next door and oh's big present arrived with the postman so I did that up so he could'nt get as quick look at it. He knows what it is as he said he needed them. I would rather buy him some thing he wants than guess something and hope fo rthe best. He has rwo drills in a nice case both rechargable and as they came in a box I did the whole thing up. A nice tidy parcel. Some things I have bought are really awful to do up so I have been saving boxes for ages now.

Sorry you had another bad night Frank it is probably to do with being a bit unsettled about goling away and have you got everything. I think most of us forget something or leave something behind. I know when we went on that narrow boat I had a lovely shower gel and new flannel that I left behind and I never saw the shower gel in the shops again!!

You will take your laptop won't you as we want to hear from you you know.Bet Gill's glad today is over and has now nice coloured hair for the next 6 weeks.

Oh had a new smart phone arrive today and its taking him ages to get it set up. His last phone was 11 years old and has been playing up recently.

I meant to say Mandy still no card here. x

Morning all,

Its a cold and frosty morning here and everything is white but the sun is also out so I don't think it is going to last long. I think I would rather have cold white mornings than dreary rainy ones though and it makes it nice around Christmas time to see the frost outside.

Donkey Day and have have bags to do. I have to go east the water to get new wellies as mine mum bought me have finally bit the dust so to speak. They seem to have rotted on the side of the left one and it looks like something has nibbled it.

then I need to go and get some bits in Lidl and I want to pop to the pound shop which is up there too and then Asda to see if they have the same kettle we had before. This new one I bought makes so much noise you can't hear yourself speak. Its a metal one and the last one was plastic. Don't know if that makes any difference or not. The annoying thing is that when we had this one it was the same as the last one and worked on the same old base and I put the new one away and now I can't find it. It may be the base thats gone and not the kettle. The other thing is the new one has no light in it so you can't see if there is any water in it or not as its in the dark corner of the kitchen.

Good Morning Mel, and All, Evening Kim,

Disaster with the first gammon. I looked at it at 8.30 and it looked done, si I took it out of the saucepan. When I cut the netting off. The bloody thing fell in half. They had put two bits together and left the netting to hold it together. CHEEKY @@@@@ So I got the other out of the freezer to thaw overnight. I have now put the other one on to boil.I will let that tick along until I go for my injection at 11.30. I will put it back on when I return.

I have had one hell of a job wrapping a present for Ros this morning. She has had the main TWO Presents which she is using. So I thought I would surprise her with one she doesn't know about.

Where were you all last night ?? Too busy doing other things I expect.

I couldn't believe my eyes in the hairdressers yesterday. There were two young Mums with a child each having the children's hair cut. Both children about 3 years old had their heads shaved up each side, all that was left was a bit on top like a PINEAPPLE TOP. and that was trimmed as well. You can't tell me the children wanted their hair like that. When they had finished, (which took ages) I got in the chair. I said to the girl "what's it like doing a normal haircut" she said WONDERFUL and giggled.

I have the job of feeding the birds, Ros has bought loads of things, so I will load up the feeders, for the week. Will check them on Friday.

Had a good nights sleep, but feel a bit iffy this morning. I have had breakfast so that's unusual. Perhaps my tummy wonders what;s happened. LOL
Home alone tonight. It's Mothers Club annual BASH. Coffee or tea for Ros, or soft drink.

Ros has just broke the stick. So she will need to buy another today, while out with Carolyn.
See you all later.

As Ros was going out with Carolyn, I walked to the Drs. had my injection. When I came out there was a House Clearance Lorry parked next to the Surgery entrance, which meant I had to walk into the road to see passed it before I could cross the road. I tenthly edged out nd had I been a FOOT further out I would have been CLIPPED. This car came into the 30 MPH area doing at least 45 and missed me by a hairs breath. To say I was shaken up is an under statement. How I managed to walk home I will never know !!!

I have tried ringing Ros, but as usual she never answered it. She always says I NEVER HEARD IT. What's the point of having a phone, if you never answer it. !!!

I am still shaking like a leaf, so I am going for a lie down for an hour. Hoping I will feel a bit better later. :-0 :-0 :-0

Afternoon all

Very late coming on here today, I ran out of time yesterday to make the pattern for the dressing gown's I want to make, so have just finished doing that. I did manage to make the pockets for the dressing gown I'm in the middle of making so will sew them into place today then that one will be finished.

Yes, it was nice to have Sandra helping me yesterday colouring my hair Ann, it's all done now and ready for Christmas and New Year.
I felt sorry for OH's friend, as you know OH was taking a Christmas present and card round to him yesterday and what he told OH will break you heart. He said he didn't have any Christmas presents to open on the big day. He was so pleased that he had ONE to open now. He said to OH he shouldn't of bothered, but when OH saw it he thought of his friend straight away. Neither of us thought about him not having any presents and wished we'd bought him more than one. I don't know why we didn't think of it as he doesn't have any family so there's no one to give him anything. At least now he'll have something to look forward to.

It sound like you had a bit of a shock today Frank with that car speeding, you were very lucky he didn't hit you. I have the same problem with OH sometimes when I ring him, he often says he didn't hear his phone. I said to put it on loud as I might of needed him in an emergency. It's on loud now. Hope you are feeling better now and over the shock of this morning. Sorry to hear about the gammon, hopefully the second one will turn out the way you want it to.

OH has just changed the locks on our front and back doors, the back door needed doing and I said he might as well do the front door as well as that had been sticking too. He's just been trying to sort out the lock on the front gate but one of the screws won't come out so that'll have to wait, that lock isn't as bad as the other two so a bit of WD40 will probably do the trick instead.

I've woken with a sore neck today, I don't know if it's from doing my hair yesterday or weather I've slept funny, but it don't half hurt. I think I might make a hot water bottle, see if that helps. Must get something to eat first, I didn't realise how late it was, no wonder I'm hungry I haven't eaten anything yet today.