General Chat

That was a nice little bonus AnnG. I am sure the bank will change them for you. I expect seeing OH’s old passport brought back memories of places you had been together.

I hope you managed to get your business on the phone sorted Mel. These jobs seem to take such a lot of time and effort. I’m pleased my card arrived. We have had no post since last Thursday and they are on strike for the next 2 days so the earliest we’ll get anything now is Friday.

I thought I’d better do some h/w so hoovered right through and did some ironing. Then we popped out after lunch. Our cul-de-sac and the road it turns into are lethal. I nearly went flying outside our garage just getting into the car but once we got onto the busier roads it was OK. We did see a couple of cars at the side of a road off a roundabout and it looked like quite a nasty shunt but the people in the cars seemed to be fine. OH got what he wanted at the builders’ merchant and filled up with fuel but I wasn’t so lucky at Tesco. It was really busy and I couldn’t get some things that I wanted and then at the checkout I got the droopy lad who was probably doing a holiday job. Not only was he very slow but he messed up completely when it came to me paying by card so we had to start all over again.

I hope you get to your lunch tomorrow AnnG. We’re going to Southend and we should be OK once we get on the main roads. Usually we go cross country through the lanes and pick up the A12 one junction south of Colchester but, to my relief, OH has said we’ll go straight down the main road and get on the A12 at Colchester. It will bring back memories as the last time we went that way was for my brother’s funeral in February 2021. It had snowed heavily the day before and there were still snow showers on the day and we didn’t know if any of the restricted number of people we were allowed would manage to get there.

We’ve just had a cup of tea and I’d better go and sort something out for our meal tonight and wrap the couple of presents we need to take tomorrow.

Thanks for your cards Mandy and Vera.

Still not managed to get anything to eat yet but I have brought the post in and hoovered the kitchen.

I'm sure it will be fine Mel. Nice of him to send me a Christmas present. Can't think why I didn't find it after he dies as I turned that cupboard out. didn't think to look through an old passport.

I expect they will change them for you Anng as I have found some of mums stashes over time and they have always done it for me. I do it at the post office.

I have been on the phone for over two hours trying to get soemthing sorted.

Now I am goinf to have something to eat as I hav.nt hand anything yet just a COC.

I was just sorting a few bits out pre packing and was looking for the anti herpes tube of stuff (just to put in my travelling medicine bag). checked T's bedside cabinet which is all but empty but that is where it used to be kept. picked up his old (not current) passport and out fell a fold of three ten pound notes and one twenty. And...... oh yes they are paper notes. I never knew he hoarded money like that, never even though to check. What a pain!!! Have to get to the bank now to try and exchange them.

good morning all -2 here I wish it would go up a bit so that at least our road and paths could thaw out. main roads are fine but my road is lethal. Not going anywhere today but supposed to be out to lunch tomorrow which will entail walking to the end of our road. If it is still icy I will use why walking pole.
Went up to -1 while I was writing this.

Morning Vera and all,

Its still very frosty here but we,ve had no more snow and pc says 2 degrees.

Shopping day today and 2 subs one is my wine which will be going back as its not acceptable and the other is tomatoes which I will accept.I don't get another order till the 3rd Jan so I ordered a bit more this week to get me through and anything else I do need I can get up the local shop.

Sorry you did'nt have another good night Vera perhaps too many things on your mind about Christmas.

Love to all of you and stay safe. <3

Good morning all

Weather app is telling me it’s-3 but feels like -7. It certainly does. At least our paper arrived this morning which is more than it did yesterday.

I’ve been sleeping better lately but I had a bad night last night so I’m feeling quite tired and heavy eyed. I’m not sure what I’m doing today. H/w is calling but I’m not listening ;-). If it warms up just a little in the middle of the day, we might pop out as OH wants to go to the builders’ merchant and I would like to get a little bit of shopping.

Keep warm whatever you’re doing

Evening all,

Brrrr it's cold ,we've had very sharp frosts but no snow so I think we've been lucky when I see what others have had.
Son and family came on Saturday to pick up the bag of potatoes and eggs we got them ,Katie ,Lacey and Lewis stayed for the day to help decorate the Christmas tree they had pizza for lunch and dil picked them up about half two ,son had to lock the school after a letting so she walked across from the school .
Hair cuts for us tomorrow then I hope on Wednesday the temp will rise a bit so we can get out to shop .

What terrible journeys your family had Anng and Gwyn I bet they were relieved to get home safe and sound .

Oh goodness Mel I'm glad you got home safe and sound too ,I wonder why there was no desiel, perhaps tankers couldn't get through the snow .
I hope your bil can bring you some you don't really want to risk driving on the red .
I keep meaning to ask if you use a mobile and take it out with you in the garden and when you go out ,I wouldn't be without mine its only a pay as you go and son pushed me into getting one years ago and ihardly ever use it but I was so glad of if when I broke my wrists .

Vera I hope your journey on Wednesday will be OK weather wise ,depends I suppose which way your travelling up here so far no snow but if your going down or across the country there might be snow .

Back home safe and sound. Got the chickens food ok and a couple of other bits and went into town for peanuts as MV did'nt have any of the 2kg bags only sacks. Then went round to the garage for deisel as I wqas very low. Guess what no diesel pumps working so I came home with the fuel light showing red. I shall have to ask BIL to bring me some when he next comes down or shall have to chance going to Hatherleigh another 18 mile round trip.

I had to take a crow bar to the chickens bolt on the door this morning and give it a bash sideways to get it open and pull like mad to get the gate open. Frozen water so I had to go and get some from the house and put a bowl in the actual chicken house where it may stay liquid. I could'nt shut the pop hole last night and if \I had I don't think I would have been able to open it this morning so it stays open for now.

So Vera you have the snow now too. Safe journey where you are going.

The frost is still on the trees here but the road looks like it may be thawing a bit. Not sure whether to chance it or not cos it will start to freeze again about 3pm if not before.

Morning everyone

We woke up to quite a heavy layer of snow this morning. The soft top is melting now but there seems to be quite a layer of ice underneath.

What horrid journeys your relatives had AnnG and Gwyn. I hope your nephew is safely home now Gwyn. We are doing a present exchange on Wednesday and it is OH doing the driving so I hope the weather isn’t too bad. It’s not too far, usually no more than an hour and a half, but as well as the weather to contend with there is a train strike so the roads could be chaotic.

Mel, you’ll need to try and take your car out for a run once a week or so to keep the battery topped up. We do that now as I was worried that we wouldn’t be able to start the car in an emergency.

I don’t remember ever missing school or work through bad weather. You were just expected to turn up. I know it’s difficult if you live in a country area and the school bus can’t get down the lanes and teachers often live further away from school now but I sometimes think schools are inclined to close at the first flake of snow. How will our youngsters learn to assess risk if they never face a bit of hardship?

I’d better climb off my high horse and see what the washing machine is doing. Stay warm and safe.

Gwyn poor nephew I bet he was glad to finally get home. So many people were caught out yesterday as the snow was very local. have to say though it may have been local but the whole of Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire right to the Welsh borders seemed to catch it. Long time since that happened.

Mel definitely don't go out if your local roads are icy. They do keep the main roads gritted usually, especially if they are bus routes or routes to a hospital.

Ann is ok but I think her membership is due to run out soon, maybe she is thinking of not rejoining. Having just signed up for two new courses I think they will take precedence.

Morning all,

Very hard frost here this morning so I don't think I will get to Holsworthy for chickens food but the sun is trying to shine so it may thaw a bit. Its one of those days where its cloudy out the front and brighter in the back. Having said that it is -3 here on the pc and says partly sunny.

I heard a rumble yesterday and wondered what on earth it was then thought it must be the snow coming off the solar panels and when I went round to the chickens it was but it let a bit more sun o the panels.

What a dreadful journey your nephew had Gwyn it must have been a bit frightening for him. I hope he had plenty of fuel.

I wonder how the others are fairing? We hav'nt heard from Ann or Mandy. I hope Ann's hubby is'nt suffering with his tooth and he can get it fixed soon.

Sending love to all past and present. <3 <3 <3

Good morning everyone.
I hope you are well this cold morning.

AnnG ..That was a long time for grandson's journey yesterday. I can visualise his route and it must have been an anxious time waiting for him to turn up. Good to know that he made it safely home again.

The weather is quite regional, it seems.
Yesterday, we met up with my nephew, as arranged for lunch in Rye, Sussex.
It has really 'Olde Worlde' charm, especially at this time of year.
After lunch we exchanged presents and set off home. We were travelling east and saw just a hint of snow on car rooftops and some pavements in one little town on our way. He was travelling back to Surrey and never made it home :-( He had to shelter somewhere, because the snow was coming down so fast that he couldn't see to drive safely. I will be pleased when the message comes through to say that he has safely reached home.

I looked out of the window this morning wondering what on earth I would see, but we are snow-free and not even a hint of frost here. The bird bath has filled with yesterday's rain and no sign of ice.
Daughter works from home and when she went online with her colleagues earlier, many have quite different weather, some with quite heavy snow and one with no electricity near Canterbury.
I think we've come off lightly here

Good morning all. Still a lot of snow on the ground but now completely frozen of course so many of our roads may be lethal. All Goucestershire schools (except one determined to stay open), are closed as many live out in the Cotwolds or forest of Dean areas where it is impossible to get the school buses for a start.

Don't know if I said (probably did), but Grandson got home ok by going the longer motorway route. I was so pleased to hear that he was home.

Mel you will have to keep your car driven now as it could be that your battery is on the way out.

Hope everyone is snow or ice free this morning. I am so glad that I don't have to go into work. and we would have been expected to get in, no snow leave or working from home for us. If anyone else from our area got it that was that, no pay.

Just realised I had'nt posted today. Sorry for being late on parade but I need chickens food and the car would'nt start as the battery was completely flat. Ed came round and went to put my big mobile charger on it but when he clipped the clips on the first one broke so he wedged that on and then the second one also broke. We put oh's charger on the car but that was taking ages so he went and got his one. We put that on and it was on most of the afternoon but it charged it up a treat.

If we don't get any more snow and the frost clears in the morning I may go then. Ed said the main roads are clear but its getting up our drive that may be a problem.

Was bidding on ebay again today and I lost one but got another so that was good.

Well they finally got here just before two having left waterlooville at about 0915.
Over four hours to do a journey that doesn’t usually take two.. and with a young dog in the car too who was bouncing by the time they got here. They left just before four to go home, it had stopped snowing but started again. So now I have to wait until I hear they are home.

Well they finally got here just before two having left waterlooville at about 0915.
Over four hours to do a journey that doesn’t usually take two.. and with a young dog in the car too who was bouncing by the time they got here. They left just before four to go home, it had stopped snowing but started again. So now I have to wait until I hear they are home.

Still snowing here and 0 degree. snow looks quite wet, just hoping it is only Glos that has it so the rest of the journey will be OK. I won't rest until they get here.