General Chat

Afternoon All

What a filthy horrible wet day. It's just miserable. I think sometimes just this time of year can get you down and in the dumps.Frank it might be just that with you and not the fact you have had no alcohol .You don't drink that much.
Chris's Dry Januaury has already failed as Fitz has been here so he did have a couple of glasses. I think he is now cross with himself :-S. He can start again tomorrow :-D.
We had a nice lunch of a cooked Brie with Cranberries and other fruit on top with a drizzled sauce,the last of some Paté and Parma Ham and a big baguette to go with that lovely gloopy Brie.

Gill you are always sorting LOL Take it easy on that back !! Things can always wait :-D

Frank,Ros isnt beginning another infection is she? Did she not start these funny turns before when she had a water infection?

Leccy on again Mel ? If our leccy was off today it would be really really dark!
I have a load of towels in the dryer. One more lot to go in and then it will be the new dryer from tomorrow :-D :-D

I'm only sorting out one cupboard in the dinning room Jane, the only problem I'm having is trying to find boxes the right size to put the things into and that are also the right size to fit back into the cupboard. Our loft isn't the cleanest of places so the boxes are very dusty which need cleaning first.

Oh, poor Chris being cross with himself, like you said tomorrow is another day. Have you thought of buying some alcohol free wine, that way he can have a glass or two without spoiling his January plans. Your lunch sounds lovely. I haven't eaten all day and reading about it has made me feel hungry ;-) We're having the southern fried chicken tonight.

Evening all,

What a dull old day it's been and it seems a bit colder out there today too.

We had a nice day yesterday with the family ,there was casserole left over so we finished it up today ,why is it it always seems to taste better the day after .

Frank i don't think you drink that much do you ,it's probably as Jane said the miserable weather that doesn't help and after being with company too, it will be nice for you to go out for a meal on sunday .
Poor Ros with her funny turns again ,the sooner she can get her op done the better it must be awful for her and for you too seeing her like that .

Oh no Gill not your poor back again , i thought you had done all your sorting out and boxing up , you could come and do mine if you like :-D

I have got all the decorations down and put away ,my goodness the dust !!!!
We've just got the outside lights to get in and the christmas tree to go to the tip some time so we're getting sorted .
We started a jigsaw a nice snowy one but have only sorted out all the edge bits so far ,i put it away so the little ones didn't lose any of the bits ,they all love a jigsaw but they do tend to wander off with a piece in their hands if you don't watch them .

We need a little shopping tomorrow ,milk ,bread and some butter , we still have a cooked ham to eat up and lots of cheeses in the fridge need using so i think i'll do a nice Mac and cheese with some of the cooked ham in too for tomorrow.
The children go back to school on Thursday !! fancy having to go back for just two days ,i suppose it's because they broke up on a Thursday .

Gill do you have the Southern Fried Chicken Strips from Iceland ? i like those .

I wonder if Mel got her shopping done and got back before dark ,takes some doing on a dark old day like today .

Gill our loft is the most disgusting place. Everything gets so filthy as muck blows in through the slates on the roof and I dont talk about the cobwebs!. I never go up there.

Enjoy your Southern Fried Chicken tonight :-D. My Mum loved a KFC .I think that was about the first fast food place other than F&C shops .The KFC was about 8 miles away (at least) and occasionally Dad would drive there to get some.I cant imagine it would have still been hot by the time he got home though so they must have warmed it up in the oven.
I have just taken down all the Xmas cards and made a list of them all ready for next Xmas.The tree is still looking pretty good although some of the ends of th branches are drooping a bit now. That is a month it has been up so it has done really well. As soon as Mark and Kate go on Thursday it will be coming down. Fitz said they have taken down the 2 small trees and he was going to make a start on taking all the decs off the big one now. That will take days to put them all away in the boxes and then put them back in the loft. He has strict instructions from Georgette as to how to pack them up LOL . He really wants to keep the fairy lights up in the kitchen but thinks that wont go down well :-S I said he should keep them as it makes the kitchen look so pretty.
I have a pic so will forward it :-)

Sausages and Potato and Chorizo Hash for us tonight. All from Tesco :-D Chris and I are not hungry yet after our lunch but James will be Hank Marvin when he gets home so can have his first..

That blooming moon was bright again last night and Thomas was up for going out at 5am again . There was no point in me trying to ignore him as he was sitting on my bedside table just staring at me ,then jumping off and scratting around being a pain.
I dont think the moon is out now. I hope not anyway. Looks like some of us are in for a very windy time .We will probably get away with the worst of it. Looks like it might be more your way Gill :-S

Mel .James has taken his Alexa up to his room now :-(. I asked if he had ordered one for Chris's birthday but he said they are out of stock at the moment.

Anne are you feeling better today?I do hope so.

I have just taken 2 pics of the pattern of lights in the Kaleidoscope that Mel sent. :-D :-D

Here I am at last. All shopping packed away and somehow I have lost two scotch eggs.

Oh has been working on the kitchen lights all day. He can't get them to work and when he does they knock the leccy out. He has put up the old bathroom round strip light for now but that hums a bit and I think it will drive me mad. I really don't like being under strip lighting all the time as that can make me feel a bit dizzy.

Jane try and buy Chris the Alexa with the screen, its only about £30 dearer and you can do so much more on it. It has the time on it to so its like having a clock.

Frank I hope you are feeling better now. Have you had a sleep today?

I am sorry to hear Ros is having her turns again. She must go and see her doc again and soon. Give her my wishes please. <3 <3

I must admit that I did have a drink of a glass of wine with my Christmas dinner and then a few days later I had another glass two nights running but thats the first I have had since April last year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So who's a good girl then??

I forgot to get oh's curry out for tonight and he won't have it cooked from frozen so we are having toasted cheese sandwiches, no I lie, he is having toasted cheese sandwiches and I am having egg and bacon. I could'nt get any smoked haddock in Morrisons today in fact the fish counter was very sparse indeed.

I think it has been as miserable here as the weather most of you have had. With the leccy being off most of the day here and there the solar panels have only done a few units. Its either the leccy being out or the dull day.

I have only had toast this morning before I went out so I could take my pills with a coffee and an eclair and cot when I got in so I am quite hungry now. I better get eats now.

Evening All,

A rainy, gloomy day here too. :-S We had jacket potatoes with the nice cream cheese, celery and grapes at lunchtime and I have just had a fresh salmon sandwich and lemon yoghurt after so that will do me for today. This afternoon we took the trees and decs down and packed most things back in the boxes, but there are a few things left to wrap and pack tomorrow and everything can go back in the loft then. We had just had enough before we had quite finished and my feet, legs and back were aching.

It's a shame you and Ros aren't too well just now Frank, but I think after a tummy bug it does leave you a bit wobbly for a while. It sounds like you would be best to have a chat with your doc if this depression continues as they can try other tablets that might be better. I had the impression you liked a few drinks but it is a good idea to cut back or stop if you can as our bodies take longer to break it down as we get older. I've never drunk much and could go from one Christmas to the next without any so it was easy for me to stop after I got panic attacks over 11 years ago and learned that stimulants like alcohol and caffeine could make them more likely. It was all the incentive I needed as a proper panic attack makes you feel as if you are going to die! I used to enjoy a glass of white from time to time and love that grapey taste with a glass in the Christmas gravy so I get a bottle of alcohol free at Christmas now. It didn't do much good this year though, as OH reckoned his ordinary wine was a bit sweet for him. He'd only been quaffing and topping his glass up with mine hadn't he!! lol. What is he like!! :-)

Today we went to pick up the prescription item for me that the doc had forgotten in include when I picked up tablets before Christmas. When I rang at the time, the surgery said it would be at the pharmacy in 2 days, just before Christmas. When I went, the pharmacy hadn't received it yet so I thought with Christmas and being busy I would leave it till now. When I called in today, they still hadn't got it, so I joined the long queue outside in the rain till the surgery opened. The receptionist found it and said they must have decided to do it manually. (I bit my tongue, but wondered how they expected me to know that when I'd been told it would be sent straight to the pharmacy?) Off I went to the pharmacy and joined the queue there and waited about 15 minutes before being told they would have to order the item! So by the time I get the item I will have made 4 trips to get it. :-S

My hairdresser has had another break in at his city salon. It is the 6th at the same salon in the last 12 months but the city council will still not allow any of the shopkeepers in the street to put up shutters at night as it is a conservation area. Gawd knows what his insurance must cost now and it will serve the council right if people move out and they have empty shops!! I read that he intends to have shutters, but will put them INSIDE the windows.

It will be nice to have your new dryer delivered tomorrow Jane and your tree has lasted well as you say. Did you get my email?

Yes, the snowy pic is one of mine Mel. If my emails are working now I might send a few.

Gill I tend to save too many things I think might be useful! I need to get on with some spring cleaning as I'm still hopeful of finding that flash stick!

I am just off to bed now.

Ann I replied to your message :-D Has it gone in your junk mail?

How on earth did you take those pictures through the scope Jane?

Ann I think your journeys have been a bit much having to go four times and still not getting your meds. Christmas should be no excuse.

Morning all,

No change in the weather this morning, dull wet and windy. Clouds noving fast across the sky. It rained last night and into the night and everwhere is soaking wet. We.ve had so much rain the chickens are paddling in mud. I must try and clean them out today. If we get a break in the wind it would be nice or the shavings blow in your face.

Good Morning to you all,

I have scanned through your posts, and I feel sick as a dog reading about all that food ;-) ;-) ;-)

I didn't eat or drink yesterday. At about 4.30 I felt so BAD I rang the Doctors.He rang me back later and was on the phone for half an hour. When we had gone through all the symptoms he said I had gone "COLD TURKEY' If I had gone to see him before doing this he would have advised a gradual reduction over a period of time. When Someone hd been drinking as long as I (over 60 years) Only in the last 10/14 years since my stroke has it got heaver. When we got down to the nitty gritty he worked out that I was drinking 70 (SEVENTY) units a week. He said that will take a lot of hard wok to get off of it altogether. I am to start with FOUR small bottles a night for a week then THREE then Two and ONE. He is also concerned with DIABETES (sp) I have had to do a sample which Ros will drop of later.

Managed to get some sleep last night, perhaps one hour in four. I lain until 9.30 Made a COT and managed to get a shower with Ros sitting in the bathroom.

Needless to say I won'tbe doing nothing today, apart from the T.V. book or Computer.

See you later, The Dr did say that if I don't improve to contact him, even thought he does't wan't to go down the DRUG ROAD. !!!!

Morning all

We've got storm weather here, OH has just noticed a couple of clips had come off the greenhouse glass, so he's just put them back. My screening is still up but is blowing back and forth so I hope it doesn't blow down. It's raining and very cold. I read online that the storm started around midnight last night and won't end until around 10pm tonight.

I'm pleased you've spoken to your doctor Frank, I thought it might of been cold turkey, which is why I suggested speaking to the doc. I'm sure if you take your time and gradually come off the booze, you'll feel better for it. It would be good if you could do it without the aid of any drugs, or you could end up having to go through it all over again to come of them. If you are going to be having a few drinks then you really should eat something before hand though, even if it's just something light, or maybe have a glass of milk to put a lining on your stomach. I hope you're not getting diabetes, I'll keep my fingers crossed the result are good for you <3

You be careful outside Mel, it sounds like it's to bad to sort your girls out with all the mud. Is there anyway you could buy some scaffold boards to put down so you don't sink when you walk down there? We got 6 off the Scafolder's as our border was so wet and muddy we couldn't put our pot plants back after we took a plant out of the ground and they are marvellous. It might be worth trying, apparently they are only around £8 each, so the fella told me. We were lucky as we got our for free, but it wouldn't of been a bad price to pay.

What a palaver to get your meds Ann, it didn't sound as if it was organised properly does it? At least you have them now. I hope you find your stick when you start your spring cleaning.

We have the same problem as you Jane regarding our loft, the slate tiles were put on with mortar and over the years it's started crumbling away and falls into the loft and over the things we have up there, this is why I put everything in boxes and tape them up so nothing gets damaged. It was a bit of a disaster with the southern fried chicken last night, I was so busy with doing other things the chicken ended up over cooked so I couldn't eat the outside of it as it was to hard, the chicken inside was nice, but it was a bit of a disappointment. Luckily I have more in the freezer so will do some more another time and this time keep an eye on it.

I've not seen the chicken strips Mandy, only the drumsticks. I'll take a look next time I'm there to see if they have any.

I've decided to take the last of the Christmas decs down today and do a bit more sorting. I can't believe how much junk I've accumulated again, I really should stop this bad habit. To be fair I'm not as bad as I used to be so the sorting isn't taking as long as I thought it would. It is a nice feeling though when it's all done and everywhere is clean and tidy again.

Morning all

Still feeling very under the weather I'm not eating properly and really can't be bothered to do anything at all, apparently there is a bug going about it definitely is worse than a cold and more like the flu,everything aches and the coughs not helping.

I will try and catch up with all the posts later.

Thank you Mel for forwarding Frank's New Year e-card .

Have just come out from the bedroom after a lie down. I felt my eyes going WHEN the PHONE rang, Simon and Sally, just back from the Narrow Boat. They are both very supportive of me and what I am trying to do. They have also decided to reduce their alcohol. I know when Ros tells Harvey and Conrad, they will be pleased too.

All I have had today is one piece of bread and butter and a soft egg. That will be enough for me. I don't know what Ros will have

I can't settle with a book or paper, so will watch a bit of T.V.

Afternoon All,

It poured in the night here and the wind was blowing this morning and had blown the plastic bags across the garden with the prunings OH had done and blown the polystyrene box off the wall that OH fits over the outside tap. It seems to have died down now though.

Frank I was a bit shocked at how much you drink, but well done for ringing the doc for a chat and getting his advice about how to cut down. It sounds a good way forward to do it gradually and you have the support of S&S and you are right about the others being worried about you. We will be supporting you too! ;-) <3

Sorry you are still poorly Anne. It is a nasty bug you have that seems to like you! It is best to rest as much as you can and stay warm. I hope little Ruby is being a good girl and giving you TLC.

Mel, the poor chickens must be hating all this wet weather and it is a horrind job cleaning them out when you are paddling in the mud. I was watching the poor ponies down the road near the river where it is all flooded and even though they were in a fenced off bit higher up, they were choosing to paddle in the icy water at the edge!!

Well everything is back in the loft now thank goodness........what a job it is fitting everything back in the boxes and the mess it all makes too. All hoovered up now though and back to normal.

OH had an appointment this morning for the free aneurism checks they now do for men his age . It was all good news and he was told that they have found that men with a normal aorta size at his age don't have problems in the future, so he is a happy bunny as he has known people who have died when one has ruptured.

I have just had poached eggs on toast today so will go and get something to eat now. OH has already got himself fishcakes with salad as he is off to a match a couple of miles away tonight. My prescription item has arrived so he is picking it up for me on the way. :-)

Afternoon All

Frank we are all behind you here <3. I am sure you will manage to do it just by reducing the amount gradually. It may help your 'down' moods too. That was good the Dr spent so much time on the phone with you yesterday. At least it saved you a trip to the surgery .

Anne, you do sound bad. This flu bug seems to be knocking people for 6. James came home from work this morning .I got quite a shock when he walked through the door. He is still feeling sick and really rotten. I cant seem him wanting much or any dinner tonight. If he is still home from work tomorrow he will have to stay well out of the way while our visitors are here.He is not being sick any more which I suppose is a positive.

Mel your poor hens in this weather and all the mud!. Poor you too having to go out to see to them too.
I didnt hear a thing last night as i slept in the front bedroom.But Chris and James said they were both woken by the noise of the wind and hail !! I definitely had the best bedroom :-D

Ann, I saw plenty of rubbish blowing around this morning.It was bin day and I think so many bins were that full that the lids didnt shut properly and so the wind was whipping the rubbish out.

Mel I got the pics of the Kalidescope by just putting my mobile phone camera right up against the eye bit. I am surprised that it worked !!

The tumble dryer arrived about 2.30 with the 2 most miserable delivery men. They just grunted :-S

I have tomorrows lunch in the slow cooker.It has another 3 hours to go so I wont be able to put it in the fridge over night.But it will be fine if I leave it in the cooker and just put it in the garage . I will just need to cook rice and some peas. I bought Freya some breaded chicken strips and Haddock Goujons but Mark said she would be happy with Cheese,Olives,Avocado ,bread.I have all those so she is sorted :-D I did think that Olivesare quite an unusual thing for a child of that age to like.She was only 2 in November.It sounds like she could be at he stage of maybe having tantrums ....HELP !! :-D. Thomas will be off like a shot LOL Toddler Tantrums can be so ear piercing !

Ann you have reminded me I have a prescription to pick up. Did you get all yours in the end? I told the pharmacist I would leave mine there for a few days as it is a 6month script and I know that they would not have 6 months supply in one go.

Looks like it is going to turn a lot colder again at the weekend.I did hear someone mention the white stuff but it wasnt the weather man . Gill I must ask Chris if he checked the panels on his greenhouse.

Good news for OH on his Aortic Anurism check Ann.It is brilliant that they can get the results straight away on that one :-D.

I just asked Chris if he checked the greenhouse Gill so he has toddled down the garden with a torch LOL All good :-D

I have done all my ironing except three things which I could'nt do as I had back ache.

Frank you know we will all support you and are asll hear for you if you need to talk. Thats what friends are for. Its good to hear S and S are both behind you too and I know their support will means lots to you. I am so pleased for you that you were able to get in touch with Simon again.

I am going to do an Irish stew again tonight.

I am still hanging on to my decs as its going to be so miserable in here once they are down. Maybe tomorrow........ so I can still enjoy them tonight.

I did'nt clean the big girls out in the end but I did put shaving in their house. This means it is going to be harder when I do dig it all out! :-(

I do hope Anne starts to feel better soon as this seems a nasty bug she has.

Good news for oh then Ann. I did'nt know you could have an aneurism check.

Frank there is a new series of Father Brown on BBC 1 in the afternoons. You coud watch those on catchup BBC iplayer.

We had such a wind in the night that it blew a length of wood off oh's trailer and it landed on the grass. I am glad it did'nt go through my shed window as its not far away from that!!

Think we are going to have to put off our visitors tomorrow. Chris thinks that James has had the Norovirus and we could be incubating it . We can't risk passing it on to Freya. I have sent a message to Mark and now waiting for him to call me back.
I will post Freya's presents that I bought for her on to Brussels .

At least the big girls have a good layer of shavings now Mel. They won't worry that you have to dig deeper to clean them out LOL
What is an Irish Stew?

I think the Aortic Anurism scan is for men over 65.

What about blooming Donald Trump boasting his has a bigger button to press than Kim wotsisname . It is like boys bragging who has the biggest willie LOL . Trump needs to stop Tweeting :-S

What a horrible windy day everywhere. I see some people lost their Trampolines. They should have had them fixed down, bringing down telephone lines was not good.

Ann I just shows how easy it is to sit a pull a ring on a can of beer. I had no idea how much it was. It's only when you talk to someone that it brings it to reality.

Thanks to you all for your support. I know you will be there for me, if I need you.

I am just going to settle down with the T.V. and my ALLOCATION OF BOTTLES OF BEER.(FOUR) I promised Ros it will be no MORE !!!! Then I expect it will be 9.00 pm and I will be ready for bed.

I think there is football on the radio so I can lay and listen to that, before getting my head down.

See you all in the morning.

Evening all,

What a blowy old night it was ,when we nipped out there were police cars in town stopping people from walking past Poundland as the scaffolding they had up to do the roof had become unsafe , Max flew round the garden with the wind up his backside it was so funny to see.

Frank that's really good you have had a talk with the doctor about your drinking , a step in the right direction and with support from your family and us lot on here i'm sure you'll get there ,as Jane said it will probably help your moods too.

Anne you do sound poorly ,i know a friend of Colins sister had been so poorly and thought it couldn't be the flu as she had had the flu jab ,she had all sorts of tests done and it did turn out to be flu in the end .
I think all you can do is rest and keep in the warm, i hope you feel better soon.

Poor old James too still feeling rotten ,i hope it doesn't go through the house Jane .
That is unusual for a child to like those sorts of food , yes the terrible twos :-0 i can see Thomas keeping out of the way .
I think the lights look pretty too in Fitz's kitchen , has he got his way and kept them up LOL

That was good the Aortic Anurism check was all fine for OH Ann, i seem to remember Colin having one done a few years ago .
Like you all our decorations are all put away now ,when in Tesco's this morning i was looking at the christmas crackers that were all reduced , i never noticed until i was further round in the store that i was covered in glitter it must have come out of one of the cracker boxes .

I wondered if your screening was still ok Gill when i saw the wind you would be getting your way ,much stronger winds your way than here .

Your poor girls in the mud Mel and you too, i can just see you getting stuck in your welly boots and having shouting to OH to get you out :-S
That was lucky with the piece of wood ,it could have had your shed window out .