General Chat

I went to see my son Tuesday evening before he goes off to Reading festival with a crowd of his mates. His flat was chaotic, his best mate was there to have a bath as his heating is being replaced at his own flat so he couldn't use it, my son had everything he needs to pack in a heap on the floor, he isn't very organised lol, and he was still washing towels and things to take with him. He has to have all his stuff and himself at the Railway station by Weds at 4pm to travel to the Festival. His friend had forgotten to bring a towel so my lad fished out the only clean one, and I recognised it straight away. It was one my Mum gave him from her airing cupboard in about 1988 when he needed a towel for school swimming lessons, a dark blue and multi coloured stripy one with my middle brother's name tag on the corner. It was the one she had got for my brother to use when he started having showers at school so would have been in about 1962. That brother was 60 earlier this month so it means the towel, which has had a lot of use from my son these last 19 years, is at least 47 years old! It's not got a lot of pile left on it and is a bit thin and threadbare but not split anywhere lol and the name tag is still securely in place too, my Dad probably sewed that on lol

Mum probably got it in a Belfast Linen Sale but wouldn't have spent a fortune on it, what a bargain eh?
What's the betting my lad loses it at Reading now, it's a family heirloom really.
Lizx

Yes, Liz, I think I would have quietly slipped it into my bag or somehow got it out of his pad!
Can you not somehow replace it with something he might like even more, but with no memories for you?
I am sure your son would understand.
I have kept all sorts of things from my childhood (including Christmas tree lights) and from my in-laws' house, that I would not part with for anything.

Jo

Some of you already know what a hoarder I am lol so I have plenty of other things with memories, a whole suitcase somewhere at the back of a garage with those cotton candy striped sheets and other towels etc from Mum's. I brought back the box of Christmas decorations too altho my son and I had our own, the ones from Mum and Dad's are around too and many other items from my childhood, youth and so on.
This towel was given to my lad by his beloved Nanny so it's his to do with as he pleases. He said it disappeared for a while and one day he was at his friend's house, his ex Scout leader who is about 13 yrs older than him, and he said 'I recognise that towel' and Richard said 'Well I think it might be yours anyway, didn't you leave it here when you came to stay?' (They have continued to be friends even when both of them left the Scouts ) He said he looked on the corner and there was my brother's name so he brought it back home lol he said it must have been there for about 4 years lol

Lizxx

Karen, I still haven't sorted out that disc. do you still want it?

Anyone else still using something that old lol?

I had a text to say son arrived safely, hope he took some warm things, as it's turned chilly and damp here in Norfolk

Lizx

Liz the dampness cleared overnight and it is not bad this morning. I've put my washing on so hope it will be dry.
Reading is less than 10 miles from me.

Linda :o) XxX

Thanks Linda, it's been lovely here in Norwich today, so I was hoping he has the same weather, and not got too cold and damp last night. He is happy camping so I am sure he is fine, it's just me thinking of the discomforts lol

Lizx

Liz
It was lovely here today. Sunny and warm. Got the washing dry so can't be too bad. Clouding over a bit now and getting a bit darker but forecast isn't too bad.

Linda :o) XxX

Glad you got the washing dry Linda, hope the rest of the week and the weekend will be fine for everyone. I am sure once my son has a drink or several he won't feel the cold and damp anyway lol, what with leaping about to the music as well and all his mates with him, he won't care what the weather is like!

I have an aunt by marriage in Twyford but haven't seen her for years and never been to her place, she and my Uncle used to visit my Mum and Dad sometimes. Now and then I talk with her on the phone but that's all except for Christmas cards and birthday cards. Maybe one day I will get round to visiting her, she is not that much older than I am.

Lizx

We are still using the two woollen blankets I bought when we got married, nearly 54 yrs ago.

We use an enormous towel, threadbare round the edges, as our dog-bathing towel. it's at least double the size of the modern "bath sheets`, still remarkably strong. My mother thought she`d had it since the 1920`s, has her fathers name tag on it (he was a surgeon in the Boer War and died in 1919.) My Mum died in 2001,age 96. I had some very old, huge off-white blankets also, came from my great grandmother, and being wool, with family who react to it, I wanted to give them away. They are now at Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake, where they do regular historical re-enactments from war of 1812, they were thrilled to have blankets typical for the time. I`m sure Mum would be pleased that they are still used and appreciated.
Mary

I still have a couple of old flannelette sheets that belonged to my Nanna.She died in 1985 aged 96.Gawd Knows how long she had them.You could spit peas through them now.I don't actually use them ,but don't want to chuck them out lol

Each camping trip we go on I take the windbreak that my Mum gave me. I have a photo of my Grandfather at Margate in 1956 with that windbreak behind him. It's my link to my grandfather as he died the following February.

I'd like to think he'd approve of his windbreak having been to Glastonbury, Cropredy, Guildford, Rhythms and Trowbridge festivals in the past 24 years and the countless other camping outings it's had!

Waste not, want not, eh? Jane, I loved your expression, spitting peas through the towel lol

I had a text from my lad to say he was having a great time, weather had been pretty much ok and he would call me to chat when he gets his phone charged up. I don't mind as long as I know he is ok, altho I shouldn't worry, he has a big crowd of mates with him. Can't help it tho, he is all I've got!

Lizx

Nice of them to help the woman out tho Dizzie - I bet those children love the memories of that time there. My lad is well used to camping as he has done lots of it over the years with scouts, friends etc and when he was with his girlfriend, they went several times with lots of others and her little lad was in a special part of the tent as were other people's kids in their tents. It was like a big commune where they all looked out for each other's kids. I went down to see them one time as it was on the Norfolk coast, on a farm site, and while we were there the little lad of son's girlfriend and his little girlfriend who he has grown up with, birthday the day before his, decided they would go up to the next bigger camp where there was a shop! They were only 4 tho and didn't tell anyone they were off so panic stations as everyone went out looking for them, it was getting late in the evening so dusk falling and it was hard to see around the sand dunes, but they were found after about an hour and sent straight to bed with no treats! It was lovely the way everyone rallied round tho and went out searching.

I think the forecast is good for Monday so if damp his tent will have a chance to dry out before he dismantles it perhaps, and brings everything back fairly dry. He has the next day off to recover and catch up on everything, I think he might need a rest!

Lizx

Liz
The weather was lovely today and I believe the forecast is good until Tuesday . So he should be OK if a little cool at night and the tent should also be dry to pack away too.

Enjoy your weekend.

Linda :o) Xxx

Thanks Linda, I am glad he has not had a soaking - yet! I don't suppose he will feel the cold if he has had enough to drink lol so will hope it's been fun and relaxing for him and he has made some new friends, altho please not a new girlfriend who lives miles away!!
I think the forecast for Monday is pretty warm - not sure what time he has to get the coach so I hope it won't be too hot a journey back altho most have aircon and he will probably sleep all the way lol


It's blowy here but dry at the mo - bet it's chilly at the riverbank where my o.h. is spending time with his family for family day and his father's birthday. I don't get on with them as I find them all very selfish, they will 'order' what they want for birthday presents etc for their partners yet I don't even get a card and o.h. says it's not his place to say anything !
As he was off around 11 am I wasn't going to push myself to get up early and go especially as I am really tired from sitting on here trying to sort out holiday accommodation for us, and we only have one car, so I couldn't join them later as I have done sometimes.
I slept till 4.15pm with only a couple of disturbances from car horns etc so haven't done anything constructive or made any calls but it is lovely to get up without him in the house! I hope he doesn't come home and think I am going to cook a proper dinner, I will be doing something for myself in a bit and if he wants a lot after the picnic he took, he can send out for pizza lol

Dizzie, it's great to have good memories like those the scouts made and showed them how to use iniative and a bit of common sense too with the holey hut.

take care everyone and hope Monday is a lovely day for us all, last Bank Holiday til Christmas now :>((

Lizx

Got a text to say he has to be on the coach about 2ish, shame it's not a bit later so he has more of the day out in the fresh air, but he will have time to get his stuff together without having to get up too early and can snooze on the coach.

Lizx

Hi again Liz
Not so nice today overcast and drab, but don't think it rained.

Been out walking son's dog twice today, but not nice and sunny.

Tomorrows supposed to be much nicer. Maybe his tent will be nice and dry.

Linda :o) XxX

Hi and thanks Linda, I expect his tent will be a bit damp from the overnight moisture and condensation but at least it shouldn't be too wet and muddy so heavy to pack, and I can bring it back here and put out on the line to dry off properly, as long as the rain holds off here.
Surprised such warm weather is promised for today, being Bank Holiday Monday but those further north don't look so lucky.

I always feel it's the end of Summer once we get to September and it gets me down, especially as we haven't had a holiday yet and I still can't get accommodation sorted out cos of dopey o.h.

Lizx

Morning Liz
Sorry to report damp overnight. Not heavy rain but wet the grass when I took dog for a walk and had to dry his feet when we got back indoors.

Overcast at the moment, but still promising good for later.

Like yourself I dislike the winter months, give me spring and summer anytime. Luckily we booked a week away the first in October, just yesterday. Off to Normandy again, taking my FIL who will celebrate his 86th birthday while we are there.

Hope you sort something soon

Linda :o) XxX