General Chat

Afternoon All,

Poor old Thomas Jane, hiding in the hedge. It makes you wonder how stray cats and dogs cope at these times. I would keep him in tonight for your own peace of mind. :-)

I like any trifle..........pass me a dish and spoon please. :-D

David, back then you did what a lot of men would have done in your shoes. You were honest with Ellen and obviously having you was more important to her than having children so please don't torment yourself with your imaginings of what she might or might not have felt over the years. A true positive fact is that she will have had far more time for YOU!! I don't have children either and to be honest I never felt a burning desire to have a child and I have a few friends who are the same. I think I was more cut out to be a granny than a mother! As Frank says, children don't always grow up as you'd like them to either.

After lunch we went to another art exhibition, this time at the village hall at Twyford which is Melton Mowbray way. OH decided the city would be quiet on a Sunday and to go that way........big MISTAKE!!! What with Diwali which blocks off the length of one of the main roads to the city and a huge tailback of cars queuing for John Lewis he was soon back to his 'irritable syndrome' again! Again it was quite interesting with a lot of paintings using things like fabric or incorporating stuff like that wonderweb as trees and bushes. Then we called at a newly built farmhouse perched high up with a beautiful view over the valley. They have started a plant nursery, farm shop and tearoom so after a mooch we had some cake and COT which was very nice. OH pointed out that there I was in just a cardigan and himself and another couple had scarves, hats, anoraks and a bodywarmer. :-)

Liz, OH always does the gentlemanly thing of letting me leave a shop in front of him but I reckon it is to see which way I will turn when I get outside!! I'm sure he just loves to say 'where are you going' when I inevitably turn the wrong way. :-S We had a circular multistorey carpark that had 2 levels, red and blue with each colour winding seperately from top to bottom of it. I was always losing my car in that as I'd forget what colour I was and have walked from top to bottom looking for my car more than once which was no joke with shopping bags stretching my arms to the floor. Yes I have trouble at hospitals and usually end up asking people directions, sometimes on the way out too. lol I'm glad I'm not the only one as I'm sure OH thinks I must be! What I want to know is how come he can find his way everywhere so easily yet can't spot a jar of beetroot in a cupboard when It's right in front of him??

Well done to Sandra doing the dinner again. I bet each time she gets a bit more sure of herself and must feel really proud.

Yes it's a shame Downton is finishing. I think I read somewhere they might be doing a film of it next. Poldark and Aidan will be easy on the eye though. ;-)

Again Ann, I totally agree with you!! OH is smugly (and patronisingly!) good at directions, and never takes a wrong turn, BUT, ask him to find a packet of peas, or nurofen, or a particular shirt or anything like that, he can NEVER find it. I think the problem is that he/they simply never move anything, they just look, can't immediately see whatever, and say it's not there!! Along you (wearily) come, move a couple items and low and behold there it is!! How annoying is that!!!
Canal trip in half an hour. Poor Pru is getting very vague.

I'm so pleased Thomas is home now Jane. I agree with the other's and keep him in tonight. We had a lot of fireworks last night but not so many tonight. It rained really hard about an hour ago and is still raining now, so that might explain why it's quieter tonight.

I saw the weather forecast on Countryfile before and they said it's going to be really cold by Friday next week with possible snow in Scotland.....Sorry Fiona, hope it's not to bad for you. I'm just grateful it's still quite mild, but poor OH is hoping to go back to work on Friday so isn't looking forward to it being cold on his first day back. He finishes his antibiotics on Wednesday and he'd already booked Thursday off so he can take Sandra and I out to the Christmas night at a garden centre near us. If he works Friday, Saturday and Sunday then he's done his contracted hours and they can't complain, luckily he's already done his contracted hours for this week, so all he's missing out on while being poorly is the overtime the company wanted him to do.

Mel, a group of Cats are called a Clowder and a group of kittens are a kindle. I cheated and Googled it. Sorry

How did The Gunners get on in the match Frank? That's OH's team, but he wasn't feeling fit enough to go to the pub to watch it. He'd be interested in the result if you don't mind?

It sounds like you've had a great day out Ann. I'm the same Ann I love trifle of any kind including the chocolate one from Tesco's, we always get that for Christmas as none of us really like Christmas pudding or Christmas cake. I only bought the chocolate trifle in the first place because I couldn't find the normal one and Sandra loved it so much we've had one every Christmas since. In fact I think I got two last year as my mum was with us for Christmas.

I'm recording Downton tonight because I'm the only one who likes it, plus Sandra wants to watch more Christmas films after the results of the X Factor. We've watched three films up to now and deleted one as we'd seen that one before. It's been nice having a family film afternoon. We ended up eating a few sweets I'd bought for Christmas while we watched the films, so I'll have to replace them now :-( :-(

Gill with Sandra getting a real help in the kitchen and you being a good cook, have you considered taking on a small catering business and being your own bosses even a country pub or B&B :-)

Thats cheating Gill. There's me thinking they will never get that and give them something to think about.

Mandy yes I did say them but I am still not telling you what THEY are so there.

Gill get the tissues ready when you watch Downton as you will need them.

It's for both David, I'm writing this on my Kindle, and use it for most of my reading these days.
Windy here, but still quite mild. This morning we're collecting up hedge clippings, and the remains of the runner beans (next year we're going to grow dwarf ones!) then OH will prune the roses, and the buddleia, sweep up a few more leaves then that should be it for another year.
Can't say that I found Downton a tear jerker! bit fanciful really, but there you go!!
This afternoon a trip to the tip, then to the insurance company to discuss and rejig all our insurance policies. A busy day is a happy one, as my Granny used to say!!

Morning all and evening Kim,

Same as yesterday here very wet and extremly windy. Last night while I went out to see if the hog had been it was so still, not a breath of air and the sky was full of bright shiney stars. Now why can't it be like that int he daytime and windy and wet at night????

Morning All,

Dreary but dry and windy here too. Well, most unlike me I did get a bit teary with last night's Downton. First with Lady Mary at her late husband's grave and then with Mr Barrow. Won't say more in case not everyone has watched it yet.

I drove OH for his eyetest this morning as he always has to have drops in his eyes and can't drive after.Then we did a few errands and next we are off to the cinema to watch Spectre, the new James Bond film. It should be pretty quiet at 12.30pm.......I hope! BBL.

Morning all

It's raining here and very windy, has been all night too. There are loads of apples on our lawn from the top of the big apple tree...the ones OH couldn't reach in the Autumn, so if there's a break in the weather later, I'm going to get them all up before they go rotten.

Going to watch Downton now, then probably more Christmas films later with OH and Sandra. OH was up before me today and put the heater and the fire on, it was so nice to get up to a warm place for a change, it's normally me who gets up first and makes the place warm for Sandra.......I could get used to him being off work, pity he's still not well though :-(

I used to have my own catering business Anne back in the 90's, it was a lot of hard work with long hours, don't think I could keep up with all the work now, not being in my 20's anymore :-S :-S. My sister run a pub a few years ago and she said it was very long hours and you got some colourful characters in there, some not so nice. Not sure I'd like that.

Off to get a cuppa now, then watch Downton and get some lunch before Sandra wants the Christmas films putting on. The F1 is on at the weekend so I need to keep some space on the planner to record it for OH if he goes back to work.

See you all later

Afternoon all,

Today we lost our dear old Toby ,to upset to say any more .

O Mandy I am so very sorry for the loss of your friend for many years. I hope he went peacefully. Dear old chap. <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

RIP Toby XXXXXXXXX

Gill, you could do B&B when you move. Our neighbour, when we lived in Devon did really well letting two rooms. She had guests all year round, holidaymakers, walkers, and people on their way to Cornwall and so on. I think you can let this number without incurring planning permission. Might be a nice little side line for you and Sandra?
We're doing the tip etc tomorrow, as OH wants to finish the hedge this afternoon in case it rains tomorrow. I shall read!
Oh dear Mandy, I've only just read your news. I am very very sorry. It's so hard and I do feel for you.

So sorry to hear about Toby, Mandy, hope it was peaceful <3 <3

I am so sorry to hear your news about your lovely Toby Mandy, we all know how sad it is to lose a much loved pet. There is a poem called " the rainbow bridge" re losing a pet. <3 <3 <3

Oh No Mandy!!..I am so sorry to hear this.Dear old Toby :-( He has been your friend and companion all these years.I know how much you are going to miss him.
I feel so sad for you right now. :-( :-(
<3 <3 <3 <3

Oh dear I keep thinking about Mandy. :-(..it is a very sad day for her and the family.It is so hard to lose a pet who has been with you for so long.

The wind is very strong here and there are things blowing overall over the place :-S
Huge gusts at times.Not a good day to be out and about.

I have Barnsley Chops tonight......Ann I know you have them.How do you cook yours?
Funnily enough on Philip and Holly this morning Phil Vickery the chef was doing them.
He made a marinade of Mint Jelly,Lemon Zest,Thyme and Seed Mustard .So I have tried to copy that ,but not sure if I have the amounts correct as they weren't given.It does smell very strong so I'm not too sure what it is going to be like.maybe I shouls have kept the chops just as they are. Too late now though as they are plastered in the stuff :-S

Gill that must have been nice for a change this morning to get up to a nice warm house :-D..How long do you think OH will be off work? Hopefully his antibiotics will be kicking in now.

Liz we had loads of Dwarf Beans this year.The best we have had I think and so many :-D.I am amazed that you have still been picking Runners like Mandy has been .Ours finished ages ago.Our Parsnips are finished now.We didn't grow too many and they have been delicious but very odd shaped and I had to cut them off short as they were quite spindly.
Chris has been in the summerhouse nearly all afternoon being creative.I don't know what he is painting.

Where is Frankie Boy today?

They've all gone now Jane, and are sitting on our bonfire, netting and all, along with more hedge clippings and leaves!! We've just got spinach, curly kale, Brussels, and purple sprouting for our winter veg. Next year we must get a bit more with it, leeks, carrots and cabbage seems to have somehow failed this time!!
Cold meat and salad for us tonight, so pretty trouble free!!

Liz we had reasonable Leeks,but Carrots were a complete disaster.We did get a few very small Cauliflowers.Not sure how are sprouts are doing.They look very small still.We have never grown them before.Red Onions have been brilliant the brown ones not quite so good (they were quite flat) Also our Garlic and Shallots haven't been so good this year.I wonder if it was lack of rain.
The best of the veg were the Peas ,Dwarf Beans and Runners.

We did enjoy Downton last night and managed to stay awake.Such a shame it was the very last episode.I hope in the Christmas Show we get to see Edith and little Marigold settled and happy :-D

Must have a look at the Radio Times and see if there is anything worth watching tonight.

I see I haven't been missed then !!

Good afternoon all.

FOLLOWED BY GET A LIFE !!!!! with that the phone went dead. Just let him start on me again, and I will be round there like a dose of salts !!!! Who knows the law regarding branches (very small ones) hanging over a garden fence. ???

So Mel is keeping everyone in SUSPENDERS then, lol :-D :-D :-D Good on yer Mel, noisy little buggers. !!!

The only two cats that we have owned have been strays. What great company they were too. We loved them all their lives, as I am sure they loved us.
My EX wanted me to have the chop after our two children. So I said you go and "get done" which she didn't like the thought of. Good job she didn't, as she was in child before we were even DIVORCED.

Dark horrible dAY HERE AGAIN TODAY. (sorry) So no going out for me tonight.

Frank, with regard to overhanging branches, we had this problem with our horrid neighbours. I think you'll find you can cut down anything that overhangs your property, but you must offer the branches back!!! Best thing to do is have look on line to check it out though, as the law has a habit of changing!!!
All cleared up now, dishwasher washing, and a recording on TV, as the programmes tonight are rubbish!!
I have a hunch that Michael may reappear at Xmas. I don't know know this, but I have a sort of feeling! That would neatly sew the whole marriage saga up, but I could be wrong!!