General Chat

Afternoon All
Oooh FRank that was a close shave with the car !! :-0 No wonder you were so shaky afterwards. I hope then now you are ok <3.

Well fancy the Gammon being in 2 halves !!! That is not good. Good job you have another one. Fingers croossed that this one is not the same !!

Those boys haircuts are quite fashionable now. At least the half shaved head.Not sure about the pineapple bit thing though. My Nephew Finn has this half shaved cut for a long time now and I have to say I really dont like it.I am hoping that now he has started Grammar School he will change the style.

So OH is a Locksmith too Gill :-D.. I couldnt see Chris managing to change locks like that. Is it wooden doors or UVPC ones? It will be good to have ones that dont stick now. WE had a sticky lock years ago and it was a devil to turn the key.Sometimes it would only go half way.

I have been and got the bird food this afternoon.I meant to get it yesterday and came home without it. :-S. So they are sorted now.Thomas has his stock in so he is sorted too. Now to concentrate on us humans LOL . Actually I think we really are just about done just hope the Turkey is delivered tomorrow.They say between 3 and 4.
Things in the shops like Pork Pies ,Coleslaws etc have rubbish dates on and will be out of date before Xmas so that is another trip to do . I have the Drs on thursday morning at 9 so I think I will just get everything else I need after that. I havent got a desert yet !! Not that anyone will eat it on Christmas day ..they never do .Everyone is too stuffed for pudding .But I bet if I didnt have one someone would decide they fancied it !!
Chris seems to have gone a bit mad on buying chocs and sweets .When I went through the box of Xmas goodies I said it was obscene the amount we had so I took some out and put them in the Food Bank collection at Tesco.

I have done a Chicken Casserole with dumplings for tonight.But we are off to Fitz's at 6 so might not really need much food when we get back. Maybe just a small bowl will do. James is not coming with us as he is popping out to see a pal for an hour so he can have as much of the casserole and dumplings as he likes
:-D

East of Water always makes me think of Aunty Betty Mel :-D Did you get you new Wellies? That is one thing I dont possess . The last pair I had leaked and I never bothered getting any more once I didnt have Chester to walk.Oh I do miss that little heller .He was such a dear but a total loony.
Benjy will be here on Thursday. I wonder what Chester would have made of him :-D :-D.. Not a lot and he would be very jealous of any attention I paid to Benjy. Thomas will probably do his dirty look and a bit of stalking LOL Just to intimidate and let Benjy know who is Boss here :-D and it ain't no little Chihuahua :-D :-D

It is going to be so Christmasy down at the Fitz's.It is really the only time of the year that the place is nice and warm and homely AND the fire will be lit :-D

I am all ready to go ,just need to change my top .I had to wash my hair just now as it looked a right state. At least that is one job less for tomorrow morning :-

Evening all,

Bit milder out there today , we still had frost first thing and i looked out the window during the night when i had to get out for the loo and it was thick fog but it had cleared when we got up .

Well Mel i'm sorry you haven't had your card and sorry to anyone else who hasn't ,i wonder if the post box has a liner inside and they have gone down between the liner and the post box and where they carn't get to them ,i had to really push them into the post box as it was so full and they went over to one side .

Frank that was scary that near miss ,i bet you said a few choice words under your breath , did you have a brandy for the shock when you got home ?
How was the other piece of Gammon ? all in one piece ? strange the other bit was in two pieces but i'm sure it will still be eaten .

That's good OH can change your locks Gill it saves a little money not having to get a locksmith in .

Enjoy the evening with Fitz Jane ,looking forward to seeing a photo of his tree .

Mel did you get all your shopping done today ? and home before dark again .

Hi everyone, I guess I'm all but forgotten but by a few these days. While I have a few minutes I just wanted to wish everyone a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS.
I haven't had much time since Carmel broke her hip bone way back in March and there have been a few set backs plus other health problems on her part. We are at the hospital again in the morning, so it never ends.
My son, in London, is currently undergoing treatment for Myeolomy, a blood cancer variant. He is currently in hospital having a stem cell transfer after chemo yesterday. He will be in for 4 - 6 weeks, all part of a long programme of treatment, so you can see my head is full of allsorts.
I hope everyone is well and thanks to those who sent us Christmas cards, I hope I have sent out ones that I should have. Between the weather and the health problems, it's been a bit difficult to cover everything.
It will be just the two of us at home this year as the logistics of visiting family is out of the question at this time. We have everything is so it's not a problem.
So my friends, once again, our very best wishes for the festive season.

Mandy I did get back just before the dark came down but I did'nt get to North Cornwall and Devon Farmers as I had to drop off Joy's presents and if I had carried on to the shop it would have been dark by the time I got home. As it was I FOLLOWED A wide load from Bideford to to stibb cross where it went right towards Holsworthy. I still had about 6 miles to go. Oh did'nt say anything anyway. I bought him a saw in Lidl with three different blades to fit the one handle so he got a pre Christmas present as I rang him while I was in there to see if he wanted more of the clamps I bought him last year as they had longer ones and he said yes get 2 lots so I treated him to hte saw.

I first went up Atlantic village to the pound shop and got a new washing line. Then popped into Asda for a bottle of wine for our neighbour and see what cider they had for her hubby and get another kettle the same as I had before which I did. Looked at the cider for her hubby but nothing suitable.On getting the kettle home it is slightly different and bigger and it dos'nt have the light inside like the old one but it has got white marking on how many cups you have in it. The other one I bought from Amazon is stainless steel and has grey markings and no light inside and its in a dark corner of the kitchen and you could'nt see how much it had in it plus it made an awful row when it was switched on you could'nt hear anything else. They had whole legs of lamb in there for £6.50 all wrapped in polythene. I was going to get one and then thought that it would last us two days so I bought two lots of steak instead and a mini lamb joint which is boneless but that cost me over a fiver. Was it worth it?

think I have got everything now except some of the little sausages we like which I get up the shop in the village. O before I went out I took the presents next door and then dropped off another ring at the shop. So you see I have been busy all day and am crooked now. Micro dinners tonight so at least not much cooking.

Frank that was a nssty experience you had trying to go round the parked lorry. I hope you have stopped shaking now. I must admit I don't always hear my phone when oh rings me when I am out as I have it in my bag.

Di came round today whilst I was out. She had left a message on my phone to say she was coming at 12 and I answered her telling her I would be out but she did'nt get the message. Then I had a message while I was driving up the road to Morrisons and it was Di again. When I got home she had brought the presents round and I did'nt have her ready and waiting for her so I suppose I shall have to take them down to her tomorrow. Do you know I have never been in Di's house!! and we have been friends for years.

I still have to go to Mole Valley for chickens food this week so I shall have to go out again, blast, just remembered.

Gill its good you now have no sticky locks and its good your oh can do these things like mine can.

Thanks William.

Hi William that was a nice surprise to see you posting ,you have a lot going on with and thing and another ,i hope all goes well with your son Happy Christmas to you
both <3

You have been busy Mel ,we went to Mole Valley the other day to get Max's biscuits i was looking at all the little bits and pieces in there and saw the Beetle game i haven't seen one of those for a long time i thought the grandchildren would like playing that so i bought one , might be some thing you could get for your little boys it wasn't very much ,it's just just a nice simple little game with a roll of the dice you build your beetle.

I did'nt see that in our Mole Valley Mandy. I did buy their Farty Putty in there though and something for Sandra.

I must give Di a ring before its too late.

Night Night all. Sleep tight and GOD BLESS YOU ALL. xxx

I think I remember that Beetle Game Mandy :-D :-D
Have just sent a pic of Fitz's tree. You really need to see it properly to see how lovely it really looks.It was beautiful . Every branch had a decoration on (but they dont show up in my pic :-S ) We had a lovely couple of hours or so there having a few drinks and Pigs in Blankets and things like that. So no casserole for us now.. Dinner sorted for tomorrow :-D

Hi William. I am sorry to hear of your Son's diagnosis and now having to go through some difficult treatment. Ihope he has a full recovery from the chemo and stem cell transfer. <3It will be a worrying time for you all at the moment waiting for the result .
It has been a trying year for you and Carmel. I wish you both a very Happy Christmas and a much easier 2018 :-)xx :-D

Morning all,

Dull and dreary morning here but its not cold which I suppose is a bonus. Its all dampy though.

Our heating oil comes todayso that will be good to know we asre ok for over the Christmas period.

I want to do some flower arrangements today if thats possible unless oh has some other plans for me. I have to have a good tidy up in the house too as everywhere is a mess.

Jane you saying that about Fitz tree not looking so good in your picture, I took a couple of pics of mine yesterday and found the same. It looks my better to the eye than in the photo.

Was'nt Fitz tree a lovely shape though and so bushy. I can see how it must have been difficult to get it in his car.

Morning all

Dull day here to Mel, but so far dry.

Nice to see you posting William, hope you have a lovely Christmas xx

Love the photo of Fitz's tree Jane, it's massive, how on earth did he get it into his car??? :-S :-S :-S

So you'll be sorted with your heating oil for Christmas now then Mel. What type of flower arrangements are you planning on making?

Well, the roofer said the roof should be finished today, but how true that is we'll have to wait and see, I think it's most likely going to be finished tomorrow or Friday by the looks of things, but you never know. OH and I are wondering if the scaffolding is only up for 2 weeks, which means it's due to come down on Friday. They have a lot of roofers next door trying to finish everything off.
I was going to bling the scaffolding up with a bit of tinsel too LOL ;-) ;-) ;-)

Just digging some wire out in my shed I have managed to stick it in my thumb. Having a job to stop it bleeding and i stink of TCP.

Oh has just poured the milk in my mug so I can have a COC.

Morning..well Afternoon now.
I am on my knees.I went to M&S and managed to get a load of things which werent going to be out of date before Xmas. The trouble was I had to park in the lower car park and the bags were so heavy. My arms now feel like Orangatans arms. I have unpacked but cant face finding room in the fridged just yet.
The logs arrived and are now all stacked away and Chris is putting in some plants i nthe garden.He did tell me what but it went in one ear and out the other.

The Turkey should be here later and also some Gin that James ordered. I just need fresh veg and maybe more potatoes and coleslaw and Cream. Then THAT IS IT.

James is off down to collect Jess and Benjy from Canterbury later and they will spend tonight at her Mums and have a Christmas Dinner.Then they will be here tomorrow afternoon.
I have so much cleaning to do and Hannahs bedroom looks like a bomb has gone off.It needs a good clean,the bed making up and clearing away all the clutter that I have made :-S
I might do that room tomorrow.The lounge needs a jolly good dust and cobweb sweep.

Fitz's tree did look so pretty.It is a shame it never looks so good in a pic. I think Georgette said there are about 200 decs on it !!!!! Never mind the rest of the decs everywhere else. Xmas tree branches all decorated in the fireplace another tree in the corner(didnt take a pic) .Lights everywhere They had to get the big tree brought in a van from Beckworth as it was too big for the car. It is probably the nicest shaped tree they have had.Fitz's tree in the snug(his mums old sitting room) that he now uses for himself was decorated with the left over baubles LOL .He said that his little Grandaughter Ottilie helped him by handing him each thing very carefully :-D :-D

Right now I am going tackle gettind all this stuff in the fridges !!!!

Gill ,I do hope that the roof will be finished now or at least by friday and all the scaffolding taken down. It would have looked very pretty all tinselled up :-D :-D. Not sure that Mr Victor Meldrow would appreciate that though LOL

Afternoon all,

We have just returned from Denis and Pam's, Been in there since 10. 30. Had a good old chin wag and plenty of nibbles and drinks. They have been in the village 50 years. I have remembered seeing them about the village when we had the shop. It's 40 years next April since we moved here. Where have those years gone.

Ros is going to shower and wash her hair ready for tonights Concert. It starts at 7.00 pm but she has to be there for 6.00 for rehearsal. She thinks I should go down with her, or I will have to walk down to the church. With all the leaves on the paths and it being dark might not be the safest thing to do. Knowing what I am like, ill end up on my Axxx. LOL

Hows your thumb now Mel,?? It is a begger when you stab yourself like that. I hope it has stopped bleeding. Have you put a plaster on it. ??

So it's almost done then Gill. !! I bet it will be nice to see the back of the scaffolding, and the noise.

Hi Will, Sorry to hear about your news. Things can only get better old mate !!!

I must see about getting dinner ready for tonight. If we are going out for 6.00. We will need to eat about 5.00pm. or after 9.00 when we get home. I think late is too late. !!

Oh dear Mel how is your thumb, hope it's stop bleeding now?

I have to go and buy a few more bits and bobs with a decent sell/use by date on Jane, when we went to the shops the other day the best date they had was Christmas eve and that was only on the dips, everything else was around the 20th so unfortunately we're going to have to make another trip to Tesco's.

It sounds like Fitz has gone to town with his decorations for Christmas, how nice of Ottilie to help. How old is she? Yes, I think you might be right and Victor Meldrew would of had a fit if I'd have put some tinsel on the scaffolding, I still think it would of looked very festive though LOL ;-) You're going to be busy today and tomorrow cleaning and getting ready for your visitors. I managed to get the hoovering done yesterday but have decided to cut the pattern piece for my dressing gown today, so it'll probably need hoovering again once I've done that. My neck is still a bit sore so I'm taking it slowly today.

Yes, I'll be glad to see the end of the scaffolding Frank and also all the noise. We normally go to bed quite late so being woken up early in the mornings isn't a joke. It'll be so nice to wake up naturally without the sound of knocking and banging. They are working like there's no tomorrow now so with a bit of luck it'll all be finished today like they said. Good idea to go to the concert with Ros, you don't want to have an accident on the way if the path is slippy.
We've just had some light rain, poor Rosie looked soaked when she came for some nuts earlier. That's the problem with that sort of rain, it soaks you through and you don't realise it's happening. Enjoy yourself tonight at the concert. :-)

Afternoon to all,

Ros has just spoke to Jan. Conrad came home yesterday, so they will have a couple of days together before coming for us. They seem to think they will be here by lunchtime. At the moment Conrad in down th pier with ELLA. Talk about a BIG KID. He will never grow up.But I expect Ella is a child he never had. I know they both love each other so much. She made me laugh when Alexander was born, she said. He will have to find a "PAPPY" of his own, as she's not going to share with him. <3 <3 <3

It has been so mild today. I had to take my jumper off in Pam's, and when I come home took of my shirt, just leaving a T shirt on. But tonight I expect the CHURCH to be like an ICE BOX. so will wrap up warm.

I don't know what the supermarkets are going to do with all this "CHRISTMAS STUFF" that is going Out of Date before Christmas. Wouldn't you think that the suppliers would be able to extend the Shelf life ??

I imagine James will have a reasonable drive down to Canterbury, with only the local traffic to contend with. Lets hope so anyway. So you are going to be "CINDERELLA " tomorrow Jane, doing all the housework. That will keep you out of mischief LOL LOL. What plants is Chris putting in at this time of year ?? Are they flower or Veg. ??

Doing shin of beef in the casserole. It's been in since 2.00 pm so I will put he vegetables on about 4,45. We can then get dinner over and washed and cleared away before we go at NOW 6.15 pm

I might walk up to the pub for a pint or two after the concert. Roa can pick me up a bit later.

Mild is right Frank.I have been so warm today.I didnt bother with a coat when I went out this morning. I think the food suppliers keep the dates short just to make us keep going back to the shops lol. I do think though that most food that say has a use by date of maybe 22nd 23rd DEc will still be fine for a few days after . It would be good if food not sold could be taken to the food kitchens for the homeless .There will plenty of them operating this year with the number of homeless rising. I think I saw on the local news the other night that there are 40 known rough sleepers just here in Kettering !!! :-(
I have been looking out for the chap who sits outside the Co-op but havent seen him since it snowed.It would be great to think he might have a roof over his head somewhere now.Touch wood he isnt ill.

You might need to take a hot water bottle with you to the church lol. Is it an old Church?.The heating systems in those are usually dreadful.Mind you it must be difficult to keep them warm,and expensive too.

Well the Turkey has been delivered :-Dand is now in the fridge but on its side.I will see if I can rearrange things tomorrow and set it flat. The delivery man got held up at the delivery before us as the lady who had ordered 6 trays of something refused to take 4 and said she only wanted 2 !!!!. He thinks she ordered 6 just to get the free delivery.If that is the case I think that is disgraceful :-S :-S
I have cooked a big joint of Beef this afternoon and have sliced it up into 2 foil trays with lids. I am just waiting for the meat juices to set in the fridge and then I'll get rid of the fat and make gravy to pour over the Beef and then freeze.I have got 3 servings in each so that will be 2 nice Roasts for Chris James and me :-D. Just hope I can get them flat on the top shelf to freeze now !

So Ella wants to keep her Pappy all to herself then Frank :-D.That is so sweet :-D
Is it tomorrow they are coming for you?

Chris planted bare root Foxtail Lillies.

Mel how is your finger? Stabbing it with that wire must have made your eyes water.Hope the bleeding stopped.

Enjoy the concert tonight Frank and your couple of pints at the pub :-D

What will dumplings be like reheated on the top of my Chicken Casserole? Will they be like rocks? I have never reheated dumplings .

Evening all,

What a dreary old day , bit foggy this morning but so much milder .

We have had a bit of a lazy day really as at the end of the week we have lots to do so thought we'd rest a bit today .
We did nip out to take a christmas card to some friends but they were out so it was a quick trip out and back.

Jane what a lovely christmas tree Fitz has ,his house does look nice with the wood panelling ,i'd love to see a photo the outside of the house ,is it oldie worldie ?
I hope your homeless man has a roof over his head and that he's not ill Jane .
I see that we have another homeless young man ,or so people thought , it seems he's a bit of a con man ,he goes rummaging through the bins when some one goes past him and feel sorry for him they have been giving him money and food .
Now some one has said he gets on the bus to go back to his house !!
Seems as if he's tried this in other towns until some one cottons on and then he moves on ,such a shame as now all those people that have given him money and food will now think again when they see some one homeless and in genuine need .

Oh Mel how's that sore finger now ,that must have quite a pinch ,hope it didn't bleed to long .

Enjoy the concert tonight Frank ,yes you'll need to wrap up warm ,churches are always cold ,you'll have to have a hot toddy when you go to the pub :-D

Is the roof all done Gill ? i had to smile at the thought of you adding tinsel to the scaffolding poles :-D
I bet Sandra's getting excited ,not long for her wait now.

Not sure about reheated dumplings Jane ,they might go a bit hard !!!! :-D

I should think dumplings would be very heavy reheating them but you could give it a go. Or make some fresh ones as they are very easy to do.

My thumb kept bleeding fo rquite a while if I put pressure on it and I am just hoping I did'nt get any blood on my tops when pulling my draws up!!!!! I went out in the shed and did a flowers arrangement thing but it got too dark in there to finished the next one I started so I came in and put the lights on the garland over the doors to the lounge.

Oh took down my daisy lights off the gazebo outside the back door and he has put up a new set of 240 soft lights I bought in Morrisons a few weeks ago. They are all singing and dancing lights and it drove me crackers so I got them to go just on with no sparkling or flashing or going out and coming back on again.

Just spoken to Di on the phone and she is coming on Friday morning about 11.30am to pick her presents up. She told me she is not doing any baking because she can't stand for long with a bad hip. She had an injection in it but it has'nt made any difference. She is also cold all the time and has to go to the nurse for tests and then to the hospital for other tests. She is really having a bad year this year so I hope the new year brings her more health and happiness and pain relief.

Well I did'nt get anything out for dinner tonight so I think it will be a chilli for him and boiled eggs for me. I hope I have a chilli in the freezer so shall go and look now.

Gill did the roofers manage to get Mr Meldrews roof finished today?

Still no card Mandy. I bet it could still turn up though.Do you know how many havent arrived? There will be thousands and thousands going through the system now .I stll havent had some cards from people who always send.
I forgot to post Larry's birthday card :-S His Birthday is on Saturday .I will send it first class tomorrow and just keep my fingers crossed.

I am glad someone has spotted this chap trying to pull a fast one on generous people .
He has been caught out :-D. Many years ago now when we had Dodger there used to be a chap with his dog who sat outside Woolworths. I would often buy him something to eat or a hot drink from MacDonalds and I even gave him Dodgers warm waxed coat for his dog. It turned out this chap actually had a car he had parked up tucked away somewhere and he was caught out too. It was even in the local paper. He soon scarpered . It gives real struggling homeless a bad name which is a real pity.I suppose there will always be someone trying it on.

Dumplings are looking kind of ok .But we may well break our teeth on them LOL. I was going to do mash but Chris said there are plenty of veg in the casserole and with the dumplings we dont need potato . Less for me to do :-D :-D

Marigold Pensioners on tonight :-D :-D I do love them.Iceland tonight ! Bet Miriam will be effin' and jeffin' as usual LOL

I did have a lovely pic of Fitz's place Mandy.But not sure if I could find it now. It is a long Barn Conversion . The people who lived there before Fitz did the conversion.It is really nice . The furniture that they have is mostly antique from Fitz's side of the family.
If I can find a pic of the outside I will send it .

Time to tackle these dumplings now :-D