General Chat

Evening All,

I hope AnnG had a good journey without holdups and is settled in now.

It was dull but dry here this morning so we bundled the old pillows and protectors and mattress protector and cushion pad I made for my window seat in the car and went to the tip before the rain came as we rightly thought few would be there. We went to the shop near there after and got home just before the rain started and before a parcel arrived that they'd given a 27th Dec delivery for, so that was early. We had another few Christmas cards too so they seem to be delivering more days of the week now.

Thankyou Mandy, I hadn't noticed the Greens, so have recorded it now as I enjoy their antics! At the same time I spotted A Tudor Christmas with Lucy Worsley, so recorded that for OH as he likes her and the historical programmes she does. I thought of Mel and her Tudor Man as no doubt Lucy will be dressing the part!

You are lucky to get your appointments through like that Vera. OH has been phoning for a few weeks now to speak to the rheumatology dept to see where he is on the waiting list for his appointment to discuss the MRI results and no-one answers the phone, not even on his secretary's number. It's 9 months now since he was referred back from the private rheumatologist for the treatment and still hasn't had any yet. They haven't even arranged any physio and his free, private physio has run out now. I do wish GR had an 'undo' button at the top like some other sites, so you could get back to what you lose! It happens to us all, so would be so useful. I hope all went smoothly with dropping the car off and getting home again and that it won't be costly to sort out.

Mel you do well with your festive arrangements, but it must be hard to judge what will sell sometimes. I think more people are going over to using the battery candles in decorations now as they are safer and there's been warnings of candle fumes not being good for our lungs. It's a good job you spotted your coffee isn't it or the mug might have broken as well! I'd never heard of Devon Mottoware, so have learned something today as I had to look it up. I hope you have a nice meal tonight and has he got you a spare wheel yet?

Hello all we left in the dark, but dry at 0725. We stopped for the loo at Stafford and for coffee at Charnock Richard, then at Tebay. For some stuff from the shop and we got here at 1.15. It was dry all the way but very dull.

Soon unpacked and had lunch and settled in. Leg is a bit painful from being constructed in the car hopefully it will ease. Hoping for a good sleep tonight as I woke around four then lay waiting for the alarm to go off. Which it didn’t so it was a good job Ibwas awake. I must have set it wrong. :-S

Tesco have been and everything is put away. They didn’t have any Bramley apples but everything else was fine. Everything is still going up in price; I expect you are all finding the same. 2 pears were £1.24. At this rate we’ll be living on potatoes and cabbage soon.

Mel, what are you like? Mind you, if you are going barmy, so am I. I put a wheat bag in the microwave the other day and set it for 1 minute 30 seconds. After about 3 minutes I wondered why it was taking so long and found I’d set it for 13 minutes. It was so hot I could barely touch it. I reckon after 13 minutes it would have exploded. Enjoy your meal at Stu’s tonight.

I expect Colin’s sister was pleased to be able to spend a couple of hours with you and your coffee sponge sounds very moreish. Invite me to tea please.

I hope AnnG has arrived safely and didn’t have to contend with much wind and rain. It’s been awful here, gusty wind and rain all day and so dark, even at midday. The computer is saying that the rain is stopping in about an hour. I hope it’s right.

Well, we had a good result with the car. Lookers are a big Volvo company and they also do Honda and Range Rover among others and they have several showrooms and workshops. When OH looked up where we had to go it turned out to be the place our side of Colchester so the easiest to get to. When we got there the receptionist said we needn’t get a taxi home as it would be looked at this morning so we could wait and help ourselves to some coffee. There was an excellent coffee machine with real china cups in a cupboard underneath so we both got ourselves a large coffee and sat in 2 big armchairs and waited. We also got talking to another couple doing the same so that helped pass the time. A lovely young man came and asked OH what the clutch felt like and what was worrying him about it and then went away to check it. After about an hour he came back and reassured us that our clutch should be fine for us to drive. It is an old car with an old clutch but there was no damage or serious wear on it. He suggested we just monitor it and if it seemed to be getting worse they would have it back in. In fact, on the way home OH said it felt different and better and we wondered if they had tightened something up anyway. They certainly gave it a good going over and we know they also drove it. The best part of all was when OH collected the car key back and went to get his credit card out, they gave him an invoice and there was no charge. They had done it for free. I expect their computer records showed that we always have the car serviced with that company but it was still a pleasant surprise not to be charged for their time. So no taxi to pay for, no mechanic’s time or new parts to pay for and a lovely coffee and comfortable chair while we waited. Can’t be bad!

Well, I’ve given myself an easy time tonight by getting Tesco to include a ready meal in their delivery but I’d better go and put the oven on to heat up as I’d like to eat about 6.30 pm tonight. Sleep well tonight everyone. I’m hoping for a repeat of last night – I slept from 12.30 to about 6.30 and I’ve felt much livelier today.

I ended up with about three quarters of a mug of coffee in the end and did'nt bother to top it up.

9 degrees and I have just been up the shop to take what I made today. I did a large candle arrangement and another posie as they seem to sell. There was still the two candle posies down the shop.

Going to Stu's tonight so I better start getting ready after wshing up as Iv'e not done todays yet. I like to work in the shed while its light I can wash up when its dark and put the light on.

Iv'e also put three likttle Devon Mottoware plates on Ebay and that takes me ages.

Going to get myself a drink now, Ribena I think hot.

Oh no Mel that was a mess to clean up did you get a full cup or end up with the half a cup.

Oh Vera that's not like you to lose a post ,perhaps you were in a hurry as you had your tesco delivery coming .

We had nearly two hours with Colin's sister and ended up with a late lunch , when we left hers the rain was coming down and it hasn't stopped since , got a nice coffee sponge cooking in the oven and a cup of tea waiting to be drunk .

Just wrote a bit of a post, clicked back a page to check something and it has disappeared. My own fault for not doing it on Word and then doing a c&p. Memo to self: must practice what I preach! I won't post more now as I am expecting a Tesco delivery at any minute but will probably bbl.

Morning girls,

Yes Mandy hope Anng and co ltd have a safe journey and don't get many holdups on the way.

Just had to wsh the microwave as I put my coffee on for 50 secs and thought it was a long while and it had boiled over, I had put it on for 50 minuets so I lost half of it on the plate. Now I know I am going barmy.

Its really dark here this morning 9 degrees with a moderate rain warning. I really need the lights on.

Hope you all slept well or got enough to be able to get on with the day.

Morning all,

Dry here but very dull I think we should get rain later .

Anng will be on her way ,hope they have a safe journey with no traffic hold ups .

Yesterday was a busy day I don't know where the day went ,today we're off out again to see Colin's sister so that will be the morning gone .

Vera I hope the car can get you to the garage ok and it's an easy fix with no waiting for parts ,as you say not what you want just before Christmas.

Mel your doing well with your floral arrangements this year ,your mum's crackers must have sold well as they sounded really special much better than shop bought that have the usual bottle opener ,little playing cards etc.

Ann there's a new Christmas with The Greens tonight ,channel 5 eight o'clock, Jean's helping with a yarn bombing and taking donkeys to a hospice .

Right better drink my tea then get on .

I did another big candle arrangement this afternoon but nearly finished it when it came over rather dark and I don't have lights in the shed. I shgall have to have another look at it in the morning.

I did up a parcel and went down the shop to post it and noticed there are only two small candle posies on the windowsill so the two posies without candles have gone so I am going to do two more without candles. People either don't want the candles because they have children orthye want them for graves. Still now wreaths down there I wish I had made some.

Just having a well deserved cuppa and then I shall do more pressies up.

Your mum's crackers sound great Mel.You must have inherited her talent as she sounds as though she was good at crafts too.

You are all packed up and ready to go then AnnG. I hope the weather is kind to you while you are away. Safe journey.

Mandy, I have suggested to one of our club organisers that if they are short of a speaker for any meeting in the first half of next year we could have a social evening with the quiz and game that we were going to have at Monday's tea and the Secret Santa presents we have all bought etc.

Annx, I remember you saying what a performance your OH had with hospital appointments and trying to get through to speak to them. We seem to be very lucky with the Eye Treatment Centre at the West Suffolk. The phone usually gets answered pretty quickly and appointments come through promptly. I saw the doctor on Friday afternoon and she said she wanted to see me again after I'd finished this course of drops. I got the appointment on Monday morning for 16th January.

We now have another problem. When we got home yesterday OH said he was worried about the clutch on the car. He didn't want to risk driving to daughter's on Christmas Eve and breaking down and getting stranded. Part of the way is on a busy A road, in fact it's the road to Stansted Airport and traffic on Christmas Eve is bound to be heavy. So this morning he rang the Volvo place near Colchester that we use for all our servicing etc. They will take the car in tomorrow morning but can't collect it as they usually do so OH has got to drive it there and hope it doesn't give up on him on the way. I've decided to go with him, rather than sit at home worrying if he's OK. The car will have to be left so we will have to try to get a taxi home. We could do without another big expense just before Christmas. Of course, when I had to cancel our dental check ups because of my cateract op, I remade the appointment for tomorrow morning. So we had to ring them and cancel yet again. Now we are booked for the end of January.

I've had a little break and a cuppa now so I'd better get back to some jobs. Keep warm and enjoy the rest of your day.

yes I didn't get the error message but it was very slow loading reply.

Kept showing error message so corrected now AnnG!

Stuttering a bit this morning Ann. Wet here and 7 degrees now. We have just been to the garden centre for coffee and daughter wanted bird seed as she has run out at home. The cafe was packed, we got the last table at 10.30 when we went in for coffee. lots of large groups. Quite festive. Some tables already reserved for afternoon tea. Had to chuckle at a couple of elderly men who just pushed all the tea things out of the way and sat at the table for their coffee. Stupis reserving tables at that time for the afternoon.

Car is all packed up now while the rain was not too bad and tomoprrow it will be dark when we go off. Just my case to go in as that sits on the back seat.

Morning All,

Drizzly here, but we were up early and took both cars to have a coffee and bun down the road as OH needed to carry on to the dentist for his appointment shortly after. I carried on to the big Co-op afterwards and got all the shopping I needed.

Vera I doubt you will need anywhere near as many drops as OH. He kept having to go to the hospital as they didn't send him promised appointments or answer the phone and then decided he hadn't been treated vigorously enough at the start and had to bring out the 'big guns' and step up his treatment. It sounds like you had a good day yesterday and we are having Salmon today!

AnnG I expect the 'children' were enjoying a good rest this morning, but you were good keeping quiet so as not to disturb them. I wish OH was as quiet when he gets up early. I was up early this morning but he managed to knock the soap dish off the wall having his shower which landed on his toe and made it sore, then left the light on when we went out! What next I wonder?

Mel, we had no frost here, but heavier rain is due this afternoon and the fields were already still flooded by the packhorse bridge down the road this morning. The bungalow near it that has 3 acres at the riverside is up for sale again after just a year. I don't think they can have realised the floods go into their short garden some years and the field unuseable most of the winter. Your mum's crackers sound as if they were fantastic! I hope you get your candle arrangement done.

Morning all,

Very dull and gloomy here this morning I really need the light on and it is 8 degrees. There was a hard frost before I went to bed last night both cars had very white rooves.

More present doing up today and I may make another flower arrangement with a big candle for the shop. Wish I had done it yesterday while the sun was shining. The crackers I made were ready cut one in card that you assemble. They came with the ribbon to tie the ends nothing like the lovely ones my mum used to make. She would buy the boxes to put them in and sell them for £1.25 a box of twelve. Those were the day!! She loved the decorating bit and som eof them were really special. All in different colours. I can remember her buy the1d boxes of matches for the mens crackers and other good thing were popped inside each one. I can see her now sitting at the little coffee table with coloured crepe paper then a sheet of tissure laying a snap on and rolling it round a metal tube. She had a sturdy twine pinned under the tabel that she would wrap around one end of the cracker and pull tight then pop the hat motto and gift in slide the tube out and tie the other end. She had two tubes one shorter than the other and she would put one in the end of the cracker while the longer one was inside and push them together to give a crisp edge and once it was fully done put the short one in the other end and push those together. They also had cardboard inside and spaced out so when she crimped the ends together they were the same size. An awful lot of worker for a few shillings and she made tons of them.

Hope you all slept well.

Vera soiunds like a lovely day yesterday after the hair appointment and a good old chin wag with friends and neighbours.

Good morning all. Not dressed yet as keeping quiet while the 'children' sleep on. 3 degrees here so a bit on the chilly side. Better get moving BBL.

A mostly cloudy and chilly day today with some drizzly rain on and off. I haven't managed to actually do very much but we have had a nice day. I did a couple of household jobs first thing and then we left at 12.15 to go into town. Normally I'd have gone by myself but at the moment OH has to do all the driving. I had a haircut booked for 12.45 and it's a good job we got to town a bit early as a car had broken down a few yards inside the car park entrance. In the end we had to go in on the exit path against the flow of traffic coming out which was a bit hairy. I gave OH some errands to do while I was getting my hair cut and he arrived back at the hairdressers just as I was paying so perfect timing.

We then went to a fish restaurant we like for lunch and we both had my favourite grilled salmon. We had to hurry a bit as we were invited by a friend for an afternoon cuppa at 2.30 and it was getting on for 2 pm when our lunch came up. Luckily she lives in town so we could leave the car where it was and walk up to her house. She had also invited our friends M & V. The 5 of us were having a good old gossip and laugh when the doorbell went and the friend who made the crackers had come to deliver a card and cracker to our hostess so she came in as well and we were quite a little party. We didn't get home till 5.15. Although OH doesn't drive after dark generally he's happy to do just a couple of miles on roads he knows that have street lighting so we didn't have to leave as soon as it got a bit gloomy.

When we got home we found the postman had left us quite a few cards. We have now received about 45. There was also a letter from the consultant who had a telephone call with OH. It was a copy of a letter she had sent to the neurosurgeon at Addenbrookes asking him to look at OH's brain scans. OH read it and said that things didn't sound too good but when I read it I was able to reassure him that in fact what it said was what she had already told him on the phone. It just sounded so frightening because it was all couched in medical language.

Annx, I really hope I don't have to have these dratted drops for anywhere near as long as your poor OH. My problem is also inflammation but from a different cause. I think as the cataract surgery was performed on the eye that has been under treatment for over 3 years now it's just going to take longer to heal. I'm glad you had a better night last night and hope the trend continues.

I'm off now to get OH to do my last drops of the day, then I shall go to bed and watch something on iPlayer.

Evening All,

A dry, sunny and chilly day here and I slept a bit better and without a paracetamol last night. I woke early for my tablets, but nodded off and then woke too late to make the early trip out I planned! OH didn't wake in time either, so we had an early lunch as he was out for a meeting. I cleaned the sink and decided it probably does needs replacing It is a black, plastic, white speckled one that's starting to look a bit discoloured in places but it is 18 years old so not surprising. I just hope it won't mean new worktops as they are still perfect.

I'm glad my card has arrived now as they were posted a long while ago.

I managed to miss you again last night Mandy. If Katie is into makeup now some eye makeup, nail varnish or lip gloss might be an idea for a little extra for her . Yes the Co-op I usually use has a nice big car park that rarely gets busy, so it's a shame they sell less now. I'm going to the big one on the main road tomorrow to see if they are reducing stock too.

That was lucky you had the phone call before you went shopping Vera, and in time so the food wasn't wasted. Mandy's idea of a party later on in the New Year sounds good.

I see you have another month of the eyedrops, so, as OH keeps meticulous records, I asked him how long he was on eyedrops for with his eye inflammation earlier this year. Out came his book and they started in December before Christmas, then were boosted in February to 1 drop every hour, gradually reducing over the weeks to 1 every other day till the middle of May!! I'd forgotten I was doing them that long, but they were for inflammation, not a cataract.

So you are packed and all ready for the off now AnnG. I hope it stays dry on Thursday morning long enough for you to pack the car. OH says it is quite a journey from where you live, as he found it long enough from here to Workington and back in a day, so it is a good idea for your daughter and SIL to have a day between at yours before travelling back.

I hope you've managed to moisten the cake now Mel. I was thinking a drop of brandy in some water! You are very patient making some crackers yourself. I've never tried it, but I like the scratchcard idea Vera mentioned.

I can't remember if I thanked Annx for her card. It came yesterday and I love it. I think its the same as Mandy's with the three little mice. Iv'e had a lot of wildlife in the way of cards this year, A donkey deer robins stags foxes and more Robins.

Been doing up pressies and made four crackers for Em, Ed, George and Sam. I thought it was going to be quick but they took me ages.

Morning all,

10 degrees here and light rain ,I'm having a morning of doing little jobs that seem to hang about .

Mel I don't know anything about diabetic cakes ,if its dry could you give it a feed of something like a little orange juice or would that be to sweet .

Ann thank you for your pretty christmas card with the little mice on it came this morning ,i hope you managed to get a better night's sleep last night ,I think this time of year there's lots of christmas things going through your mind with doesn't help .
We go in the co op down the road from us usually for the TV book they have good parking there it saves trying to park in the town and Aldi stopped having papers and magazines a long while ago.

Vera shame the christmas tea was cancelled but at least you hadn't made a start on any food so no wastage ,perhaps you could all meet up and have a new year tea party when everyone's feeling better .

Next job is sorting and cleaning the fridge and I want to try and do my Yorkshire puddings for the freezer so I only have to pop then in the oven on christmas day.