General Chat

Just had the phone call that none of us want. My nephew John rang to tell me Bill's son STEPHEN passed away this morning. This is the one that just came out of hospital, who was going to be on oxygen. No other information as yet.

Mel, OH is pretty stoic about his diet will keep to it as much as possible. He knows it's for his own good and that it's silly to go against medical advise. Who knows he might even lose some weight which would certainly be a good thing!!
Oh dear Frank, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. As you say, these are the phone calls we all dread and sadly can't be avoided the older we get.
Raining hard here so an afternoon by the fire!! Yes Gill the family will be with us on Sunday! It's lovely to see them, but they can be a bit wearing!!
Try and have a peaceful day Frank. <3

We.ve got sleet hail and rain at the moment and its very cold out.

Gill there was a pic but it was too dark to see it really.

O Frank so sorry to hear that news that Stephen has passed away. I too lost my dear dad at Easter on Good Friday in 1979.

Afternoon All from a very wet afternoon here. It was lovely this morning.
Oh Frank, what sad news you have had :-(. I am so sorry to hear that Stephen has passed away. No more suffering for him now.

Anne what a shame John didn't manage to get his defib fitted in time for the holiday. Does he have any idea yet when it will be done?Hopefully it will be very soon now.

The email I sent with the sound ofthe Nightingale had no pic as it was 8oclock last night and pitch black. I should have said.The sound of the bird was much louder in real life) It was so lovely.I wonder if it will be back again tonight.

Thanks Liz for your lovely Easter e-card. I do love the Jacqui Lawson cards.

Oooh Gill cramp in your foot sounds horrible.Is it the kind when it makes your toes go into strange positions? Lets hope it doesnt carry on.Maybe an easy day will help.
So a bad night Mel. You will be pooped by now if you only had 4hours of sleep.
I loved your Easter Wreath with all the Pussy Willow and Catkins. Will you keep this or is it one for the Church?

Frank it must be a day for painful backs and hips. I have been just like Ros today. I did go shopping this morning but by the time I got home I could hardly get through the door :-SI just dumped all the shopping bags in the front porch and tottered in for painkillers and for Chris to rub a load of Ibuprofen Gel on my back. I hope that Ros's pain is a bit easier now this afternoon.
I didnt realise that Alcohol affected the Gall Bladder Liz. I just assumed it was fatty/Dairy foods. Good job I don't have Gall Bladder problems :-D :-D

Chris has done so much cutting back of all sorts today ,he had to go and have a sleep this afternoon.He is up now and feeling a lot more refreshed.

As it is just the two of us tonight I thought I would do Steak,Chips, Mushrooms,Tomatoes and a rather rich looking Cauliflower Cheese and Chive dish I bought somewhere.

Frank we used to go to the George sometimes when Chris was working and it was still in the days when Pharmacutical Reps would take all the GPs and wives out for slap up meals.The George at Stamford was a favourite :-DWe had some cracking meals there.
James wont be eating there tonight but I expect he will have a great breakfast in the morning :-D(if he doesn't have a hangover from tonight lol

We have a skip coming tomorrow for all the garden stuff and other rubbish we need shot of. At least James is here this weekend to give Chris a hand.
Hannah and Gareth are enjoying their first day in Paris.I think the weather was good there this morningso they went up some big tower to get a birds eye view over Paris. Hannah refuses to go up the Eiffel tower as she didn't enjoy it when she was a little girl.They are staying in a rather snazzy appartment that belongs to parents of one of Gareths friends.It looks all ultra modern.

Well it is tipping it down now and can see that Thomas has taken shelter in the Summerhouse.
The fire needs attending to,it is almost out !

Evening all,

Just finished dinner, and sent a note to Susan my niece, within seconds the phone rang. It was my SIL (FRAN) she has Garry her other son there with his wife and children as well as Susan and her children.

The undertakers have only just been to remove the body. Why it should have taken so long, I will never know.

Been the most horrible day here. Roa went off to get the veg for the weekend, and said that Tesco's was very busy. She won't buy her veg from Morrison's unless she has no option. Why I don't know.

You can see I don't KNOW much tonight. lol lol.

Thanks for your kind words.

Frank, maybe it has been a busy day for the undertakers and this is why is has taken a while for them to collect Stephen.

I got all my veg and potatoes today at Tesco. It was pretty busy but not heaving.I got a big Pyramid thing of Chocolate Profiteroles in M&S for pudding on Sunday. I think it will do us a few days !!!!!. I didn't realise when I bought it that is was so big :-S
I also bought Janice a very nice necklace and scarf for her birthday for the 9th April.

Liz , have you been to Hampton Court Castle near Hereford? It can't be too far from you. It is one place that looks interesting with lovely gardens and is near where we will be staying for a night at Stratton Sugwas in June.

I can hear the Nightingale :-D

Morning all,

Very cold and white frosty start here but it has brightened a bit and the sun is trying to shine although not very sucessfully.

Happy Good Friday all, at least its earlier this year but it still hurts as my dad died on Good Friday 1979 39 years ago.

Hot Cross Buns are ready for when we both want one and I just have to find something for dinner tonight.

Slept better last night. Went off as soon as my head hit the pillow.

Good morning Mel,and all.

Not happy memories for you today my love. xxx

I was clock watching from 4.00 am this morning, I just woke up, and was WIDE AWAKE. I was up by 7.00 and let Ros lie in until 9.00. I got her tea and crumpets for breakfast. Couldn't be bothered with anything for myself, perhaps I will get something at lunchtime.

Brightish sort of morning here. Harvey said he would be coming up today to do some JOBS. I won't hold my breath. !!!

No plans for today, or the weekend in fact. Only John and Carolyn coming for Sunday lunch. Everywhere looks so wet outside. All that rain yesterday hasn't helped.

I bet you were surprised to see frost this morning Mel.

Time for my shower and shave. Do I get dressed in shirt and trousers, or JOGGERS and T shirt, in case Harvey comes, and needs some help. DECISIONS.

Joggers and T shirt Frank as you never know! ;-) Thanks for the downloads!!! Miserable old day here, so I shall crack on with the veg for Sunday; trouble is we're just not used to feeding so many these days so it always seems .more of an effort than it did years ago. L is bringing the pudding so at least we don't have that to worry about!
Fish for supper as its Good Friday, probably a pie or perhaps fish fingers, just depends how the day goes!

We,ve had a bit of sunshine here but now its gone in again.

We,ve just had coffee and a hot cross bun so that should keep us both quiet for a while.

The washing machine has stopped so I better get that on the line as I want to do the bed today.

Liz what will you do with the veg for Sunday? Its only Friday.

Afternoon all

Got a bit of a cold, it started yesterday with sneezing and today it's no better and I'm achy too. I've managed to box up a few spare dishes we took out of the kitchen cupboard the other day, but I think that'll be my lot today as I really don't feel up to doing anything.

I'm so sorry to hear about Stephen Frank. My thoughts are with you and your family. That was quite some time to had to wait for the undertakers, but like Jane said maybe they were busy.
Hope your jobs are sorted today. I think joggers and a T. Shirt would be best.

I was wondering how you were going to keep your veg fresh for Sunday too Liz with it only being Friday. I like a nice fish pie and like you said it's Good Friday so what better day to have one.

Oh I see Jane, when I couldn't see a picture I thought I had a problem with my laptop. Lovely sound though, lets hope he comes back.

We're having frozen peas + Carrots, cauliflower, potatoes and broccoli which all keep ok in cold water. I've prepared today and will cook the cauliflower, carrots broccoli and potatoes tomorrow, so they'll only need roasting, and microwaving. I may do the white sauce tomorrow too as the less we have to do on sunday the better.
It's got really cold here, rainy and really miserable so I'm helping OH with de pooing, then it's sitting by the fire time!

Afternoon All

I bet you have your joggers on Frank. More comfy too rather than shirt and trousers.
I tend to wear jogger type trousers when I am at home and not expecting any callers.They arent the most glamerous bit of clothing but just so comfy.

I have defrosted some Chicken Breasts for tonight.But Chris said he was expecting fish with it being Good Friday !. Well he is out of luck as i don;t have any and am not going ot out just to get fish :-D. Liz I think it is a good idea of yours to get all the veg and potatoes prepared nice and early.I don't think I have ever done mine 2 days before hand though. Maybe just the day before. But like you say kept in cold water they will be fine.

The weather looks to be deteriorating now and it is just starting ot rain and getting colder. It is looking really miserable now.I did hear we might have even have some thunder this afternoon.So the fire is lit and no-one is going anywhere .Even Thomas is in !

Mel ,I am sure today you will be thinking af your Dad and remembering good and happy days with him. I bet it doesn't seem like 39 years ago.

Gill,I hope your cold doesn't get any worse.Just relax(if you can LOL ) and take it easy today.

Did anyone watch The Full Monty Ladies last night? Or the Mens the night before? What brave people.I thought they all did an amazing thing to raise awareness for Breast,Prostate and Testicular Cancer. I found the ladies one very emotional . I take my hat off to ALL of the men and women who took part .

James arrived home about 10 this morning . Looking a blooming wreck LOL . He said he didnt get to bed last night until 4am !!!. I didnt hink there was anywhere in Stamford that stayed open so late lol . They went to a Pizza place first and then to some Bar/Club.He did say it was quite 'tame' compared to other places he has been .But they all had a great time. He says he is out for a meal tonight with old friends .One of the friends is an old school friend of James who we used to take on holiday with us to France when we did Eurocamp hols.

I want to eat some Chocolate. .But am going to be good and wait until Sunday :-D

Go on Jane SPOIL YOURSELF lol lol

I's hissing with rain here, so as you can imagine NO HARVEY.

I was just settling down for a few zzz when the door bell went, as I got up, Carolyn was at the lounge window. Don't get up she said. TOO LATE. She had bought some plants round that Ros had left in her car. Just about to settle agian, when Ros came from washing her hair, with the Bl@@dy hair dryer. That is now churning away, above the sound of the T.V.

That was a late night for James !!! I bet he won't feel much like being out tonight. But there again if you can't do it at that age, when can you do it. ?? Which reminds me. Harvey said that Lewis went to a night club at the Elephant & Castle in London. The DJ didn't stop playing until 6.30 am on Saturday morning. He came home showered and went to work in Milton Keynes. He came home about 7.00 pm and Harvey heard his car on the drive. Where was Lewis asleep in his car.lol lol. He was there for about an hour. Came in, and went straight to bed.

Ah the hair dryer has stopped. I wonder if her hair is dry ?? It must be, as she has unplugged it. Peace at last, now I don't want to have a doze.

I don't think we will be going out to get F & C this evening, in the weather. We have plenty of other things in the fridge or freezer, so we won't go hungry.

Liz, I will get all my veg done tomorrow, including the Yorkshire pudding mix, that can sit in the fridge until Sunday, as can the cheese sauce. I know I will get complaints from JOHN, as I always do too many VEG. Better too much than not enough. !!!

Yes I thought those "girls" did very well last night Jane. I didn't realise how big COLLEEN was. What a backside she has. ;-) ;-) ;-) Who was VICTORIA ?? they seemed to give her a lot of screen time. But overall they did a great job to raise awareness of Breast Cancer. I didn't see the men the night before.

As I said I shall cook the veg tomorrow (except the peas) so they'll only have been in water for a day/night Jane. Years ago when the whole family (only two tots then) used to come for Xmas the potatoes were in cold water for up to three days and always ok provided you changed the water!
What a wet afternoon really depressing. My SIL rang and she's complaining bitterly about the weather! They've only been back in Lincoln for just over a week, having spent the winter (Oct-March) in Spain as they do every year! I don't think I sounded very sympathetic!!
Goodness these party goers!! I can remember in the dim distant past coming home at all hours. I couldn't do it now!!!
Fish fingers for us tonight, chip and peas, so not too much trouble.

Frank Victoria is Victoria Derbyshire .She has a programme every morning on TV(can't think what channel) She had Breast Cancer .
Still not eating my chocolate :-D Maybe later tonight I might just give in :-D
I bought a new hairdier this week. It was half price on Amazon. It is one of these new fangled things that is meant to be gentle on your hair and had some sensor in it .(Don't ask how it works). I used it this morning for the first time and was quite impressed. Normal price is almost£100 !!!! . I would never pay that for a hairdrier.
Had to laugh at the thought of Lewis asleep in his car :-D. At least he managed to get to work after his night out. I think some of us forget how much we managed to party and still work. I know I did. I do wonder though how I did it ,especially when I was a Nurse. Being young and having fun was great.I am glad I lived LOL
James seems to be up and about now and looking far more refreshed .

Still raining here. Thomas must have been desperate and has had used his litter tray.I can;t remember the last time he used that in the daytime.

Yes I'm glad I did too Jane especially the time I spent at college/work in Oxford. We did have some fun!! Even after Ian and I were married we had and went to some pretty lively parties! Our sailing years were fantastic with the Isle of Wight a favourite weekend haunt., We made so many friends, with the kids in tow, and It always seemed good weather, but it can't have been! It's hard to believe that Ian used to actually climb the mast in a bosuns chair with me ratcheting it!!! Don't think I could get on a sailing boat now never mind actually help sail it!! They were happy days that's for sure!
Cas has just had a wee in one of our tubs outside the front door, I can't believe she's just done that!! She hates getting her bottom wet, so she's avoiding the grass which is saturated!!